EFCC Arraigns Former Abia Governor and Four Others Over Alleged N60.85bn Fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned five individuals, including former Abia State Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji, before a Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, over alleged fraudulent activities amounting to N60.85 billion.

On Friday, February 28, Orji, along with Engr. Chinedum Orji, Dr. Philip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma, and Romanus K. Madu, faced 16 counts of conspiracy, official corruption, stealing, and the diversion of public funds. The charges are said to contravene provisions of the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.

One of the charges alleges that between 2011 and 2015, the accused individuals stole and diverted N22.5 billion allocated to the Abia State Government as security votes. Another charge accuses them of conspiring to steal and misappropriate N12 billion from the Paris Club Refund between 2010 and 2011.

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All five defendants pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. Following this, prosecution counsel Dr. Pinheiro SAN requested the court to set a date for the trial’s commencement.

The defence teams, representing the accused, filed bail applications. Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) Bode Olanipekun, Chika Osolu Ojukwu, K.I. Odeh, Oke Amaechi, and Isaac Anya, all requested bail for their clients.

In her ruling, Justice Lilian Abai granted each defendant bail in the sum of N50 million, with one surety per defendant, who must have a property in Umuahia and provide evidence of a Certificate of Occupancy. Additional conditions include the deposit of international passports and submission of two passport-sized photographs.

The case has been adjourned to 18 and 19 June 2025 for trial to commence.