The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Friday, February 28, 2025, arraigned former Abia State Governor, Theodore Ahamefule Orji, alongside four others over alleged fraud involving N60.85 billion.
The defendants, including Engr. Chinedum Orji, Dr. Philip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma, and Romanus K. Madu, were arraigned before Justice Lilian Abai of the Federal High Court in Umuahia on a sixteen-count charge bordering on conspiracy, official corruption, stealing, and diversion of public funds.
The charges contravene Sections 516 and 516(a) of the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.
One of the charges accused the defendants of stealing and converting N22.5 billion, allocated to the Abia State Government as security votes between 2011 and 2015. Another count alleged that they conspired to divert N12 billion from the Paris Club Refund between 2010 and 2011.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Prosecution counsel, Dr. Pinheiro SAN, requested a date for the commencement of trial, while defence counsels, including Bode Olanipekun SAN, Chika Osolu Ojukwu SAN, K.I. Odeh, Oke Amaechi SAN, and Isaac Anya, applied for the bail of their clients.
Justice Abai granted the defendants bail in the sum of N50 million each with one surety in like sum. The surety must own a landed property in Umuahia with a Certificate of Occupancy, depose an affidavit of means, and provide two recent passport photographs. The defendants were also ordered to submit their international passports to the court registrar.
The judge adjourned the case to June 18 and 19, 2025, for trial.
