EFCC Arraign Ex-Abia Gov, Son, 3 Others Over Alleged N47bn Fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned former Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, before the Abia State High Court over alleged misappropriation of N47bn during his time in office.
Orji, alongside his son, Chinedum Orji, a former Commissioner of Finance for Abia State, Dr Philip Nto, a government contractor, Obioma King, and a former Director of Finance for Abia State, Romas Madu, were arraigned on a 16-count charge brought against them by the EFCC.
The anti-graft agency accused them of conspiring to steal and convert for personal use billions of naira meant for various government projects in the state.
The EFCC accused them of misappropriating N22.5bn allocated for security votes from 2011 to 2015.
They were also accused of stealing N13bn from a loan facility granted by a defunct bank and illegally converting N12bn from the Paris Club refund.
The defendants were also accused of converting N10.5bn from another bank meant for the state, along with N2bn from the Central Bank of Nigeria designated for small and medium enterprises in the state.
However, when the charges were read to the defendants on Friday, they pleaded not guilty to all 16 counts.
Bode Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria representing the first defendant (Orji), moved a motion for bail on behalf of his client.
In the same vein, Chikaosulu Ojukwu, K.I. Oleh, Okey Amechi, and Isaac Anya, all senior advocates, filed bail applications on behalf of their clients.
EFCC’s counsel, Kemi Pinheiro, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, did not object to the bail applications but asked the court to use its discretion.
The Chief Justice of Abia State and Presiding Judge, Justice Lilian Abai, granted the defendants bail and adjourned till June 18 and 19, 2025, for trial.
EFCC Arraign Ex-Abia Gov, Son, 3 Others Over Alleged N47bn Fraud is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
