Breaking: EFCC arraigns former gov, 4 others over alleged N60.85bn fraud

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday arraigned former Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji, and four others before Justice Lilian Abai of the Abia State High Court in Umuahia.

They face a 16-count charge related to an alleged misappropriation of N60.85 billion in state funds.

The case, filed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria, lists Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, Engr. Chinedum Orji, Dr. Phillip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma, and Romanus K. Madu as the first through fifth defendants, respectively.

According to court documents, the charges outline a series of alleged financial crimes spanning several years.

One of the charges states:
“That you Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, Engr Chinedum Orji, Dr. Phillip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma and Romanus K. Madu, sometime in 2015 in Umuahia Abia State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired among yourselves to commit unlawful acts to wit, stealing and conversion of the sum N2,000,000,000.00 (Two Billion Naira Only) being the proceeds of the Central Bank of Nigeria Funds for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) allocated to Abia State and thereby committed an offence contrary to the provision of Section 516 and 516(A) c the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.

Another count alleges that in 2013, the defendants conspired to divert N850 million meant for ecological projects:
“That you Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, Engr Chinedum Orji, Dr. Philip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma and Romanus K. Madu, sometime in 2013 in Umuahia, Abia State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired among yourselves to commit unlawful acts to wit stealing and conversion of the sum of 850,000,000.00 (Eight Hundred and Fifty Million Naira Only) being the funds allocated to Abia State for ecological projects and thereby committed an offence contrary to the provision of Section 516 and 516(A) of the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.”
Further allegations include the theft of N22.5 billion in security vote funds between 2011 and 2015, N12 billion from the Paris Club refund in 2010–2011, and N13 billion from a Diamond Bank loan in 2015.

The defendants are also accused of diverting N10.5 billion from a First Bank loan intended to benefit both the state and local government councils in 2012.

The EFCC’s charges, spanning multiple years and involving large sums of public funds, invoke various sections of the Abia State Criminal Code, including Sections 516, 516(A), 390(5), 98, and 104.
The court is expected to begin hearing the case soon, with legal experts predicting a high-profile trial that will attract national attention.