Theodore Orji denies involvement in N228.4m EFCC fraud case
By Jeffrey Agbo
Former Abia State governor and immediate past Senator for Abia Central, Theodore Orji, has distanced himself from a Federal High Court judgment in Abuja linking him to an interim forfeiture of ₦228.4 million.
Reports earlier indicated that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured an ex-parte order from Justice Emeka Nwite for the interim forfeiture of funds allegedly tied to money laundering and diversion of public funds during Orji’s tenure.
The funds, totaling ₦228,497,773.12 and held in a Keystone Bank account under Effdee Nigeria Ltd, were reportedly siphoned from the Abia State government. The EFCC alleged that Effdee Nigeria Ltd served as a conduit for laundering the funds.
In response, Orji refuted the allegations, stating that he had no connection to the case or the funds in question. He also debunked claims linking an individual named Erondu Uchenna Erondu, described as a government aide to his administration. Orji clarified that Erondu only served under former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu’s administration.
Justice Nwite has directed the EFCC to publish the interim forfeiture order and allow interested parties 14 days to contest the permanent forfeiture of the funds.
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The senator, who recently announced his retirement from active politics, speaking through his media aide, Ifeanyi Umere, said: “Our attention has been drawn to a media report, claiming that a Federal High Court in Abuja has made an order of interim freezing and forfeiture of the sum of over ₦228.4m linked to senator T.A Orji to the fed government on allegations of money laundering.
“This is to notify the general public that the said report is false and misleading as there is no pending case in any court involving Senator T.A Orji and Hon. Erondu Uchenna Erondu, a former Special Adviser to ex-Governor Okezie Ikpeazu with EFCC as contained in the news report.
“A thorough scrutiny of the whole story which emanated from NAN revealed that the reporter of NAN, in the bid to break the supposed story, ended up publishing fake news, as he referred to Erondu as the special adviser to senator TA Orji.
“The reporter who did not crosscheck his story ought to know that the story in question between Erondu, Austin Akuma of Keystone Bank, Effdee Nigeria limited and EFCC happened between 2016 and 2017 a few years after Senator TA Orji had left Office as the governor of Abia State.
“We want to urge media houses and their reporters to always cross check their stories before rushing to publish. Once again Senator Orji has assured that he will be willing at any time when called upon by any anti-graft agency to come and give account of his stewardship as Abia state governor as he has nothing to hide.”