N228million Fraud: Abia Ex-Governor Theodore Orji Denies Links To Company Accused By EFCC
The Abia ex-governor was reacting to reports about a Motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
Theodore Orji, a former governor of Abia State, has denied involvement in an alleged N228.4million fraud linked to a firm, Effdee Nigeria Limited, while distancing himself from the fraud allegations.
The Abia ex-governor was reacting to reports about a Motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before the Federal High Court, Abuja.
The Federal High Court in Abuja had scheduled May 28 for hearing in a motion filed by the EFCC seeking an order for final forfeiture of N228.4million linked to Theodore Orji.
Justice Emeka Nwite chose the date after EFCC’s lawyer, Fadila Yusuf, informed his court that her client has complied with an earlier order for publication.
Yusuf had said: “I wish to state that we have complied by publishing the report on the Commission’s website and in a newspaper, as directed by the court.”
She then applied for a date to move the motion on notice for final forfeiture, a request Justice Nwite granted and adjourned till May 28 for the hearing of the motion.
A statement on Tuesday from the former governor, Orji’s liaison office, said the report was false and malicious, adding that it failed to conduct proper fact-check.
One of the inaccuracies, according to the statement, was the claim that Senator Orji served as Governor in 2016 and 2017, whereas his tenure ended in May 2015.
It dismissed as false any associations between the former governor and Mr. Uchenna Erondu or Mr. Austin Akuma, stressing that none of the two individuals had any role in his administration.
Senator Orji further denied any knowledge of, or connection to, Effdee Nigeria Limited – the company wrongly linked to him in the report.
In a supporting affidavit, the EFCC had claimed that the money was a subject of investigation by its operatives, which was found in the possession of a firm, Effdee Nigeria Limited, adding that it was suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
The EFCC said: “Effdee 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.”
It had stated that the ex-governor and others are being investigated for the allegations following intelligence report received by the Commission against Orji.
