An Owerri High Court has ordered the final forfeiture of Royal Palm Springs Hotel and other properties linked to former Imo state governor and Senator Rochas Okorocha and other members of his family.
Justice Fred Njemanze in his ruling on the case involving properties in pages 226 to 272 of the Imo state Government white paper report by a Judicial Commission of Enquiry on Recovery of Lands and other related matters, said Okorocha’s counsel failed to give concrete and verifiable reasons why a final and absolute forfeiture order should not be given in favour of the Imo state government.
Njemanze said the suit filed against Imo state Government by Okorocha’s counsel was not properly filed and further described it as surplusage (a term in lawn which means a useless statement completely irrelevant to a matter).
Insisting that the white paper gazette by the Imo state Government is a legal binding document, the high court judge added that those who might have made purchase on such properties are at liberty to approach the court to prove their titles.
Some of the properties forfeited include:
1. Eastern Palm University, Ogboko
2. Royal Spring Palm Hotels and Apartments
3. IBC staff quarters said to have been illegally acquired for the purpose of Rochas Foundation College
4. Owerri magistrate quarters, Orlu road/cooperative office/Girls Guide allegedly converted to private use housing market square and Kilimanjaro eatery
5. Public building situated at plot B/2 Otamiri South Extension Layout given to the ministry of women affairs for establishing a skills acquisition centre for women, allegedly acquired for the benefit of Nneoma Nkechi Okorocha’s all-in Mall along Aba road.
6. Plot P5, Naze residential layout, initially part of primary school management board but now annexed to All-In Mall along Aba Road, belonging to Mrs Nkechi Okorocha
7. And all the properties contained from pages 226 to 272 of the government white paper on the recommendation of the judicial commission of inquiry into land administration in Imo state from June 2006 to May 2019”.
