EFCC Arraigns Former Abia Governor, 4 Others Over Alleged ₦60.85bn Fraud

The EFCC has arraigned a former Abia State governor alongside four others over an alleged ₦60.85 billion fraud. Read more on the corruption case.

On Friday, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) brought former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji and four other individuals before Justice Lilian Abai at the Abia State High Court in Umuahia.

They are confronted with 16 charges connected to the suspected misappropriation of N60.85 billion in state funds.

The lawsuit, initiated by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, names Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji as the first defendant, followed by Engr. Chinedum Orji as the second defendant, Dr. Phillip Nto as third defendant and Onwumene King Obioma and Romanus K. Madu are listed respectively fourth and fifth defendants .

Based on court documents acquired by SaharaReporters, the charges detail a range of supposed financial crimes occurring over multiple years.

One of the allegations indicates:

In 2015, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court in Umuahia, Abia State, Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, Engr. Chinedum Orji, Dr. Phillip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma and Romanus K. Madu allegedly conspired to engage in unlawful activities by misappropriating and converting a sum of N2 billion (Two Billion Naira) from Central Bank of Nigeria funds intended for Small and Medium Enterprises allocated to Abia State—actions that constitute an offence under Section 516 and 516(A)c of the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.

Another allegation claims that in 2013, the defendants plotted to misappropriate N850 million intended for ecological projects.

Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, Engr Chinedum Orji, Dr. Philip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma, and Romanus K. Madu are accused of conspiring in 2013 in Umuahia, Abia State to commit unlawful acts involving the theft and conversion of 850 million naira allocated for ecological projects within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court. This act constitutes an offense under Sections 516 and 516(A) of the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.

Additional accusations involve the misappropriation of N22.5 billion from security vote funds between 2011 and 2015, N12 billion from the Paris Club refund during 2010–2011, and N13 billion taken from a Diamond Bank loan in 2015.

The defendants are additionally charged with misappropriating N10.5 billion from a First Bank loan that was meant to support both the state and local government councils in 2012.

The EFCC’s charges, covering several years and involving substantial amounts of public funds, cite different sections of the Abia State Criminal Code. These include Sections 516, 516(A), 390(5), 98, and 104.

The court is anticipated to start hearing the case shortly, with legal experts forecasting a high-profile trial that will capture national attention.