Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of ₦228.4m Traced to Ex-Abia Gov Theodore Orji

A Nigerian court has ordered the interim forfeiture of ₦228.4 million linked to former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, amid ongoing investigations into alleged corruption.

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an interim order to freeze and forfeit over ₦228.4 million, tied to former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, to the Federal Government due to money laundering allegations.

In response to an ex-parte motion filed by Fadila Yusuf, the counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Justice Nwite instructed the commission to publish the order on its website as well as in Daily Trust Newspaper.

As per Justice Nwite’s directive, concerned parties must provide justification within 14 days following the order’s publication.

The judge then postponed the case to February 3 for a compliance report.

In its ex-parte motion, the anti-graft agency requested an order for the temporary freezing and forfeiture of ₦228,497,773.12 held in a commercial bank account listed in the schedule attached to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In her five-point argument, the EFCC Counsel stated that the money listed in the schedule was under investigation by the Agency and discovered to be in Effdee Nigeria Ltd’s possession.

She stated that it was reasonably believed to be the result of illegal activities.