Kehinde Fajobi
Former Abia State Governor, Senator Theodore Orji, has refuted reports claiming that a Federal High Court in Abuja ordered the interim forfeiture of ₦228.4 million allegedly traced to him.
In a statement issued through his aide, Hon. Ifeanyi Umere, Orji described the report, attributed to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), as false and embarrassing. He clarified that he has no pending case related to the matter before any court.
“Our attention has been drawn to a media report claiming that a Federal High Court in Abuja has made an order of interim freezing and forfeiture of the sum of over ₦228.4 million linked to Senator T.A. Orji to the Federal Government on allegations of money laundering,” the statement read.
“This is to notify the general public that the said report is false and misleading, as there is no pending case in any court involving Senator T.A. Orji and Honourable Erondu Uchenna Erondu, a former Special Adviser to ex-Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, with EFCC as contained in the news report.”
Orji explained that the individuals mentioned in the report, including Erondu, Keystone Bank official Austin Akuma, and Effdee Nigeria Ltd, had no connection to him.
He further noted that Erondu was never his aide and was erroneously referred to as his Special Adviser.
“The reporter who did not cross-check his story ought to know that the case involving Erondu, Austin Akuma of Keystone Bank, and Effdee Nigeria Limited with the EFCC occurred between 2016 and 2017, years after Senator T.A. Orji left office as Governor of Abia State,” he added.
Calling the publication a “pure case of error of fact,” Orji demanded an immediate retraction and public apology from NAN over the report’s inaccuracies.
“Media organisations should try to get their facts correct to avoid misleading their audience. The general public should disregard the misleading publication,” the former governor stated.
Orji assured the public of his willingness to cooperate with any anti-graft agency if required, emphasising that he has nothing to hide regarding his tenure as governor.
Meanwhile, his legal team has been instructed to address the issue and seek redress over the misleading report.