Court Orders Interim Forfeiture Of ₦228 Million Allegedly Linked To Former Abia Governor Theodore Orji
A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of ₦228.4 million allegedly linked to Theodore Orji, the former governor of Abia State, over suspected money laundering activities.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order following an ex parte application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The funds, held in a Keystone Bank account under the name Effdee Nigeria Ltd., are alleged to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The court directed the EFCC to publish the forfeiture order on its website and in a national newspaper to notify interested parties. These parties have 14 days to show cause why the funds should not be permanently forfeited. The case has been adjourned to February 3 for further proceedings.
The EFCC’s counsel, Fadila Yusuf, argued in the application that Effdee Nigeria Ltd. conspired with others, including Orji and officials from his administration, to defraud the Abia State government.
“Effdee Nigeria Ltd is alleged 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,” Yusuf stated.
The EFCC claimed the funds needed to be preserved while investigations and potential prosecution continue.
Tahir Ahmed, a litigation officer with the EFCC, disclosed that Effdee Nigeria Ltd., a waste disposal company, was allegedly used as a conduit for laundering state funds. Investigations revealed that the company’s account received significant inflows from various Abia State government agencies, culminating in a balance of ₦228,497,773.12.
Ahmed further noted that Austin Akuma, a Keystone Bank divisional head, allegedly facilitated transactions between Effdee Nigeria Ltd. and Erondu Uchenna Erondu, a former aide to Orji. Akuma reportedly admitted that the company’s account was used to transfer funds from the state government’s accounts.
Orji, who served as Abia State governor from 2007 to 2015 and later as a senator for Abia Central District from 2015 to 2023, has faced multiple allegations of financial misconduct. In August 2021, the EFCC interrogated Orji and his son over accusations of diverting state funds during his tenure as governor.
This latest development marks a continuation of the EFCC’s efforts to recover alleged misappropriated public funds.
