Okorocha, wife appeal forfeiture order, say judge ruled without hearing

A former governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, and his wife, Nkechi, have appealed a judgement which ordered the permanent forfeiture of their property to the state government.

Justice Fred Njemanze of the State High Court had on August 9 gave a judgement ordering permanent forfeiture of over 47 property linked to Okorocha, his wife and the Incorporated Trustees of Rochas Foundation.

But in an appeal filed on August 10 and made available to journalists on Owerri on Thursday, the couple said the trial judge erred in law.

The appeal, which was filed by Okorocha’s lawyer, Oba Maduagwu, read in part, “The trial court erred in law when it entered final judgement in the suit when the parties had neither been heard nor allowed to file and adopt their various  processes to show cause why the order of interim forfeiture should be set aside”.