By Suleiman Anyalewechi
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, granted an interim order for the forfeiture of the sum over N228 million traced to a former Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji.
The Source reports that ,Orji ,who recently retired from active partisan politics after eight years at the Senate, presided over the affairs of Abia state between 2007 and 2015.
Ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Commission, EFCC , presiding Judge , Honourable Justice Emeka Nwite ,also ordered the anti-graft agency to issue a publication on its official site ,as well as the Daily Trust Newspaper inviting interested persons to show cause within 14 days ,why the said money should not be finally forfeited.
The EFCC,had in an application earlier brought before the court , prayed for an order of interim injunction freezing and forfeiting the sum of N 228,497 ,773 .12 ,being held in Keystone Bank .
The Commission had similarly, asked the court to authorize it to make a publication on the interim freezing and forfeiture order to be made by the court on its website and Daily Trust Newspaper.
The EFCC is of the view that the said amount, which was discovered to be in the possession of Effdee Nigeria Limited ,is a subject of ongoing investigation.
The anti-graft Commission in the motion further argued the said money in question is reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
“Effdee Nigeria Ltd is alleged to have conspired with others to defraud Abia state Government to wit: conspiracy ,abuse of office ,obtaining money by false pretence ,money laundering and diversion of public funds.
“Effdee Nigeria Ltd ,in whose possession the monies were found ,is reasonably suspected to have conspired with Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji, the former Governor of Abia State, some officials in the former Governor’s administration, and his family members”, the EFCC contended
The agency averred that the said Abia State Government officials were subjected to investigative processes following the receipt of credible intelligence linking them with the said money.
According to Tahir Ahmed, a litigation officer with the Commission, the reports linking the former Governor and others with the illegal transaction were received between 2016 and 2017 .
He contended that “Effdee Nigeria Ltd ,a sewage and waste disposal outfit ,was used as a conduit by former Governor Orji, some officials of his administration ,and family members for the illegal diversion and laundering of Abia State Government funds, during the tenure of the former Governor.
“The Company was used to siphon funds and divert monies with the aid of some officials of Keystone Bank.
“The intelligence report was assigned to the Economic Governance Section. of the Commission for investigation.
“The team in the course of the investigation arrested Austin Akuma ,the Divisional Head of Keystone Bank PLC Umuahia ,who was the middleman between the contractor ( Effdee Nigeria Limited ) and Erondu Uchenna Erondu ,the Special Adviser, General Duties to the former Governor”, Ahmed deposed.
The matter has been adjourned to February 3 ,2025 ,for the hearing of the report on compliance with the order.
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