The ex-governor of Imo state, Rochas Okorocha, has pleaded not guilty to the 17-count charge of money laundering leveled against him by EFCC, and six others.

Rochas Okorocha, to his plea alongside a chieftain of the All Progressive, APC, Anyim Nyerere Chinenye, and five companies- Naphtali International Limited, Perfect Finish Multi Projects Limited, Console Projects Consulting Limited, Pramif International Limited, and Legend World Concepts Limited.

When the charges were read to him before trial Justice Inyang Ekwo, the former governor, said: “I understand the charge against me, but I am not guilty my lord”.

Rochas Okorocha, who was the governor of Imo state from 2011 to 2019, was accused of diverting funds belonging to Imo state, to the tune of about N2.9billion.

The charge leveled against him bordered on conspiracy and stealing.

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All the other defendants also pleaded their innocence to the charge dated January 24.

EFCC alleged that the defendants diverted money from the Imo State Government account and Imo State Joint Local Government Project account, and diverted the same into accounts of private firms.

According to the anti-graft agency, the defendants committed the alleged offense between October 2014 and February 2016.

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He was however arrested by operatives of the agency, a few hours before his political party, the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, screened its presidential candidates.

The arrest followed an alleged refusal by the former governor to make himself available for trial.

EFCC accused him of deliberately evading service of the charge on him.

Meanwhile, following the plea of the defendants on Monday, Okorocha’s lawyer, Mr. Okey Amaechi, SAN, prayed the court to release him on bail pending the determination of the case against him.

Amaechi further drew the attention of the court to the fact that his client was roughly arrested before APC’s screening.

“My lord, without a warrant of arrest from this court, they went into the house of the defendant, broke into it, and arrested him in a Gestapo manner”, he added.

However, EFCC, through its lawyer, Mr. Gbolahan Latona, told the court that Okorocha raised some issues in his bail application that would require its response.

While adjourning the matter till Tuesday to hear bail applications of the defendants, Justice Ekwo ordered that they should remain in EFCC custody, pending the determination of their bail request.

The court equally fixed November 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 for trial.