A Federal High Court in Abuja has made an order of interim freezing and forfeiture of the sum of over N228.4 million linked to former Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia 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)โs lawyer, Fadila Yusuf, also directed the EFCC to make publication of the order on its website and Newspaper.
According to Justice Nwiteโs 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 pursuant to 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.
The motion dated Dec. 30, 2024 and filed Jan. 2 by Yusuf, was also brought under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
The lawyer sought an order granting an interim freezing and forfeiture of the sum of N228, 497, 773. 12 domiciled with Keystone Bank set out in the schedule attached to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
She also sought โan 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.โ
The lawyer, in her five-ground argument, said the money described in the schedule was subject matter of investigation by the EFCC and found in the possession of Effdee Nigeria Ltd.
She said it was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
โEffdee Nigeria Ltd is alleged to have conspired with others to defraud Abia State Government to wit: conspiracy, abuse of office, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering and diversion of public funds.
โEffdee 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 governorโs administration and his family members,โ she said.
Yusuf said they were being investigated by EFCC for the allegations following intelligence report received by the commission against Orji.
According to her, there is need to preserve the monies pending investigation and/or prosecution.
Tahir Ahmed, a litigation officer with EFCC, said sometimes between 2016 and 2017, the commission 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 for the diversion and laundering of Abia Government funds while Orji was in office.
โThe company was used to siphon funds and divert monies with the ald of some officials of Keystone Bank,
โThe Intelligence report was assigned to the Economic Governance Section of the commission for investigation,โ he said.
He said the team commenced 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 forer 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 contractorโs company, Effdee Nigeria Limited, would be used to received funds from Abia State Government accounts.