Nigerian Court Orders Interim Forfeiture of ₦228.4 Million Linked to Former Abia Gov

By Okafor Joseph Afam | January 8, 2025

In a significant legal development, a Federal High Court in Abuja has granted the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) an interim order to freeze and forfeit over ₦228.4 million linked to Theodore Orji, former governor of Abia State. The court’s decision, delivered in response to an ex-parte motion filed by the EFCC, follows ongoing investigations into allegations of money laundering.

Justice Emeka Nwite, who presided over the case, issued the order after considering the EFCC’s motion, which stated that the funds were held in a Keystone Bank account and were suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities. The funds are linked to Effdee Nigeria Ltd, a company allegedly involved in laundering public funds under Orji’s administration.

The court has directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order on its website and in the Daily Trust newspaper to notify any interested parties. Those who wish to contest the forfeiture have 14 days to show cause as to why the funds should not be permanently forfeited to the government.

The EFCC’s investigation reveals that the funds were part of a larger scheme involving Orji, his family members, and several government officials. Effdee Nigeria Ltd, a company involved in waste management, is accused of acting as a conduit for diverting and laundering public funds during Orji’s tenure as governor from 2015 to 2019.

According to EFCC officials, the company’s operations were used to channel government funds to various bank accounts under the supervision of certain Keystone Bank officials. In one such instance, a banker named Austin Akuma allegedly facilitated transactions between Effdee Nigeria Ltd and Erondu Uchenna Erondu, a special adviser to the former governor. The arrangement allegedly saw funds from the Abia State Government funneled through various accounts, with cash being withdrawn and returned to the Special Adviser in the Government House.

The court also adjourned the case until February 3, 2025, for a report on compliance with the order.

The EFCC’s legal team, led by a lawyer identified as Yusuf, filed the motion on January 2, 2025. The motion cited constitutional provisions under Section 44(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act. It also emphasized the suspicion that the money in question was unlawfully obtained through corruption and other criminal activities.

Theodore Orji, who served as the governor of Abia State for two terms from 2007 to 2015, later represented Abia Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly. He retired from active politics after serving his term as senator.

The EFCC’s ongoing investigation into Orji and his associates continues, as authorities seek to recover looted funds and bring those responsible for the diversion of public funds to justice.