The former governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji, has strongly denied any involvement in an alleged N228.4million fraud tied to a company, Effdee Nigeria Limited. Orji’s firm, through a public statement, rejected all allegations linking him to the fraud, calling them “false and malicious.” The former governor’s position follows reports that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a motion in the Federal High Court, Abuja, to seek the final forfeiture of the N228.4million.
The EFCC had claimed that the funds in question were connected to Effdee Nigeria Limited and were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities linked to the former governor. Orji, however, made it clear that he had no connection with the company or the individuals associated with it, specifically Uchenna Erondu and Austin Akuma, who were named in the allegations.
The motion filed by the EFCC seeks the final forfeiture of the sum of N228.4million, which the anti-graft agency claims was part of fraudulent activities carried out through Effdee Nigeria Limited. According to the EFCC, the company is implicated in a series of illegal activities involving the abuse of office, money laundering, and diversion of public funds.
In response, EFCC’s counsel, Fadila Yusuf, informed the Federal High Court that the commission had followed all required legal procedures, including the publication of the report of the motion on the EFCC’s website and in a national newspaper, as directed by the court. The matter was adjourned to May 28, when the court will hear the motion for the final forfeiture of the funds. Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided over the case, set the date after the EFCC confirmed it had complied with all prior orders.
Theodore Orji, who governed Abia State from 2007 to 2015, issued a statement through his liaison office, firmly denying the accusations. The statement criticized the report as not only false but also malicious, accusing the authors of failing to properly verify the facts before publishing.
One of the key inaccuracies the statement highlighted was the claim that Orji served as governor during 2016 and 2017. Orji clarified that his tenure as governor ended in May 2015, contradicting the report’s timeline. Furthermore, Orji emphatically stated that neither Uchenna Erondu nor Austin Akuma had any involvement in his administration, rejecting any insinuations of their connection to him.
The statement also dismissed any suggestion that Orji had any association with Effdee Nigeria Limited, the company accused by the EFCC of fraudulently obtaining public funds from the Abia State government. Orji insisted that he had no knowledge of the company and that the allegations were entirely unfounded.
The EFCC’s investigation into the alleged N228.4million fraud stems from an intelligence report that pointed to Effdee Nigeria Limited’s involvement in criminal activities. According to the commission, the funds in question were diverted through illegal schemes, including conspiracy, abuse of office, obtaining money by false pretenses, and money laundering. The EFCC believes that Orji, along with other individuals, was complicit in these activities.
Effdee Nigeria Limited, according to the EFCC, was central to a web of fraud that affected the Abia State government, with the company allegedly working in conjunction with others to siphon public funds for personal gain. The anti-graft agency contends that the money was part of a larger effort to defraud the state, which could have far-
The EFCC has been actively pursuing the final forfeiture of the funds linked to Orji and others involved in the case. This legal action forms part of the EFCC’s broader efforts to address corruption and financial misconduct within Nigerian state governments. The commission has consistently emphasized its commitment to tackling public sector corruption and recovering misappropriated funds.
The motion for final forfeiture was filed after the EFCC was able to secure a provisional forfeiture order from the Federal High Court earlier this year. The Commission’s lawyer, Fadila Yusuf, confirmed that the necessary publication of the proceedings had been made, fulfilling the court’s order and paving the way for the May 28 hearing.
Orji’s legal team, however, remains steadfast in denying the allegations, maintaining that no evidence has been presented to support the claim that the former governor was involved in the fraud. They have called for a fair legal process to clear his name and refute what they see as an unjustified smear campaign.
The next critical step in the case will occur on May 28, when the Federal High Court is scheduled to hear the EFCC’s motion for the final forfeiture of the N228.4million. This date will be a significant turning point for both the former governor and the EFCC, as it will determine whether the funds are permanently forfeited or if further investigation is warranted.
While Orji has consistently denied all wrongdoing, the public and legal scrutiny will likely continue as the case progresses. As the EFCC pursues its investigation, the former governor’s defense will also likely focus on disproving any direct involvement in the alleged fraud or illegal activities.
