EFCC Arraigns T. Orji, Four Others Over Alleged N47b Fraud
Umuahia (Core Reporters) Report said the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned a former Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji, and four others, at the Abia State High Court for allegedly misappropriating about ₦47bn.
He was arraigned alongside his son, Engineer 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 before the Chief Judge, Justice Lilian Abai on a 16-count charge bordering on conspiracy to steal and convert billions of naira meant for various government programmes.
They were indeed accused of: Misappropriating N22.5 billion allocated for security votes from 2011 to 2015, stealing ₦13 billion from a loan facility granted by Diamond Bank, illegal conversion of N12 billion from the Paris Club refund.
Moreover, they are also accused of converting ₦10.5 billion from a loan granted by First Bank, meant for the Abia State government and its local councils, along with ₦2 billion from Central Bank of Nigeria funds designated for small and medium enterprises.
Core Reporters report that all the five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The defence team including Bode Olanipekun, SAN, (representing the first defendant), Chikaosolu Ojukwu, SAN, (for the second defendant), Okey Amechi (SAN) and Isaac Anya all filed bail applications on behalf of their clients.
Pinheiro had no objections to the bail requests but asked the court to exercise its discretion in determining the conditions of bail.
In her ruling, Justice Abai granted the defendants bail before adjourning till June 18th and 19th, 2025 for trial.
