Alleged N60.85bn fraud: Court grants ex-Abia Governor Theodore Orji, others N50 million bail each 

Justice Lilian Abai granted the defendants bail on Friday following their arraignment on a sixteen-count charge bordering on conspiracy, official corruption, stealing, and diversion of public funds.

Apart from Orji, the other defendants in the case are Engr. Chinedum Orji, Dr. Philip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma, and Romanus K. Madu.

According to the EFCC, the defendants allegedly contravened Sections 516 and 516(a) of the Criminal Code, Law of Abia State and are to be punished under the same provisions.

One of the charges reads:

“That you, Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, Engr. Chinedum Orji, Dr. Philip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma, and Romanus K. Madu, sometime between 2011 and 2015 in Umuahia, Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, stole and converted the sum of N22,500,000,000.00 (Twenty-Two Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira Only), being the allocation to the Abia State Government as security votes, thereby committing an offence contrary to the provisions of Section 390 (5) of the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.   

Another charge states:

“That you, Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, Engr. Chinedum Orji, Dr. Philip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma, and Romanus K. Madu, sometime between 2010 and 2011 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 N12,000,000,000.00 (Twelve Billion Naira Only), being funds due to Abia State from the Paris Club Refund, thereby committing an offence contrary to the provisions of Sections 516 and 516(a) of the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.   

The judge then adjourned the matter to June 18 and 19, 2025, for the commencement of trial.