By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday arrested former governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore Orji, and his son, Chinedu, over alleged misappropriation of N48 billion while in office in the guise of security vote.
Father and son are also accused of mismanaging N2 billion Ecological Fund and conversion of Sure-P funds.
The former governor’s arrest was confirmed to newsmen by EFCC spokesperson, Wilson Uwujaren.
While Orji held sway in “God’s Own State” from 2007 to 2015 as governor, his son was the power behind the throne, wielding undue influence.
Today, TA Orji, who succeeded Senator Orji Uzor Kalu as governor of Abia State after serving as his Chief of Staff, is a federal lawmaker representing Abia Central Senatorial District at the Senate.
His son, Chinedu, popularly known as “Ikuku” is the current Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly and is touted as a possible successor to the incumbent Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu.
Orji, who has been on the Commission’s watch list, was intercepted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja at about 10 am on Thursday and brought to the headquarters of the EFCC at Jabi, Abuja for continuation of his interrogation.
He was arrested before he was able to board a flight out of Abuja.
His son, who was equally on EFCC’s watch list, handed himself in after hearing of his father’s arrest.
An EFCC source said: “Senator Orji is being quizzed alongside his son, Chinedu, the current Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, who turned himself in this afternoon upon learning of the arrest of his father.
“Senator Orji and his sons, Chinedu and Ogbonna, are under investigation by the EFCC for offences bordering on misappropriation of public funds and money laundering.
“The ex-governor is alleged to have collected N500 million monthly as security vote for eight years as governor of Abia State between 2007 and 2015.