The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an interim order to freeze and forfeit over N228.4 million linked to former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji. The funds are to be transferred to the Federal Government over allegations of money laundering.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order following an ex-parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by its counsel, Fadila Yusuf. The court also directed the EFCC to publish the order on its official website and in the Daily Trust newspaper.
As per Justice Nwite’s directive, any interested parties must file their claims within 14 days of the publication. The case was adjourned until February 3 for a compliance report.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) noted that Mr. Orji previously served as a two-term senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District before retiring from active politics.
The EFCC’s
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.”
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.
“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.
“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 stated that the EFCC is investigating former Governor Theodore Orji based on intelligence reports received by the commission. She emphasized the need to preserve the funds pending the outcome of the investigation or possible prosecution.
Tahir Ahmed, a litigation officer with the EFCC, revealed that the commission received intelligence reports between 2016 and 2017 implicating Senator Orji, some officials of his administration, and members of his family. He alleged that Effdee Nigeria Limited, a sewage and waste disposal company, was used by the former governor, alongside his associates and family members, to divert and launder funds belonging to the Abia State Government during his tenure in office.
“The company was used to siphon funds and divert monies with the ald 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 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 contractor’s company, Effdee Nigeria Limited, would be used to received 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 Abia State Government leaving a balance of N228, 497, 773.12.
Ahmed, however, said that investigation was still ongoing in relation to the allegations received against the suspects.
He said there was need to preserve the res to prevent the dissipation of the above mentioned monies pending the conclusion of investigation and conclusion of the multifarious criminal complaints and ongoing investigations pertaining to the suspects.
After Yusuf moved the motion, Justice Nwite, who said the application was meritorious, granted the prayers.
