A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered interim freezing and forfeiture of over N228.4 million, linked to former governor, Theodore Orji of Abia State, to the federal government on allegations of money laundering.
Justice Emeka Nwite, in a ruling on an ex-parte motion moved by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s lawyer, Fadila Yusuf, also directed the EFCC to make publication of the order on its website and Daily Trust Newspaper.
According to Justice Nwite’s order, interested parties should show cause within 14 days of the publication of the order.
The judge adjourned the matter until Feb. 3 for a report of compliance.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Orji also served as a two-term senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District before he retired from active politics.
The anti-graft agency had, in the motion, ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/03/V/2025, brought the suit under Section 44(2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Yusuf’s motion dated Dec. 30, 2024, filed on January 2, was also brought under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.
The lawyer sought an order granting an interim freezing and forfeiture of N228, 497, 773. 12 is domiciled with Keystone Bank in the schedule attached to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
She also sought “an order authorising the commission to make publication of interim freezing/forfeiture order made by this honourable court on the EFCC website and Daily Trust Newspaper and the interested parties to show cause within 14 days of the publication of the order.”
In her five-ground argument, the lawyer said the money described in the schedule was the subject matter of investigation by the EFCC and found in the possession of Effdee Nigeria Ltd.
She said it was reasonably suspected to be the proceeds of unlawful activities.
“Effdee Nigeria Ltd is alleged to have conspired with others to defraud Abia State Government with 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,” she said.
Yusuf said the EFCC was investigating them for the allegations following an intelligence report received by the commission against Orji.
She says preserving the monies pending investigation and/or prosecution is necessary.
Tahir Ahmed, an EFCC litigation officer, said that between 2016 and 2017, the commission sometimes received an intelligence report against Sen. Orji, some officials in his administration, and his family members.
He averred that Effdee Nigeria Limited, a sewage and waste disposal entity, was used by the former governor, some officials in his administration, and his family members to divert and launder Abia Government funds while Orji was in office.
“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,” he said.
He said the team commenced an Investigation into the case, which led to the arrest of Austin Akuma, the Divisional Head of Keystone Bank Pic in Umuahia, who was discovered to be the middleman between the contractor (Effdee Nigeria Limited) and Erondu Uchenna Erondu, Special Adviser, General Duties to the former governor.
He alleged that the banker, in a statement made upon words of caution at the EFCC office, stated that it was agreed between himself (Akuma) and Erondu that the contractor’s company, Effdee Nigeria Limited, would be used to receive funds from Abia State Government accounts.
“Thereafter, the contractor would distribute these monies to several accounts of specific customers of the bank to be provided by the banker, after which these various customers would withdraw cash and return same to the banker who in turn takes the cash to the Special Adviser in the Government House,” he alleged, attaching the statements made as Exhibit EFCC 1.
According to him, letters of investigation activities were also written to Keystone Bank, and analysis of the statement of the above account of Effdee Nigeria Limited revealed substantial inflow from various agencies in the Abia State Government, leaving a balance of N228 497 773.12.
Ahmed, however, said that the investigation of the allegations received against the suspects was still ongoing.
He said the rest needed to be preserved to prevent the dissipation of the monies mentioned above pending the conclusion of the investigation, the conclusion of the multifarious criminal complaints, and the conclusion of the ongoing investigations about the suspects.
After Yusuf moved the motion, Justice Nwite, who said the application was meritorious, granted the prayers.
We’ve got the edge. Get real-time reports, breaking scoops, and exclusive angles delivered straight to your phone. Don’t settle for stale news. Join LEADERSHIP NEWS on WhatsApp for 24/7 updates →
Join Our WhatsApp Channel
