Court To Hear EFCC’s Motion For Final Forfeiture Of N228.4 Million Linked To Ex-Governor Orji

Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter to hear the motion after the EFCC’s counsel, Fadila Yusuf, informed the court that the agency had complied with the earlier court order.

Upon resumed hearing, Justice Nwite asked Yusuf for an update on the matter. The lawyer stated that the matter was scheduled for a report of compliance. She added, “I wish to state that we have complied by publishing the report” on the commission’s website and in a newspaper as directed.

Mr. Yusuf then applied for a date to move their motion on notice for final forfeiture, and the judge adjourned the matter until May 28 for the motion.

Justice Nwite had, on Feb. 13, adjourned proceedings in the forfeiture case until April 7 (today). The adjournment followed the EFCC’s failure to publish the interim forfeiture order for the sum of over N228.4 million in the national dailies as directed. The delay was attributed to the inability of the lawyer’s office to access the order on time to allow the publication on both the website and in the newspaper.

Justice Nwite had, on Jan. 3, granted an order for the temporary freezing of the funds in favor of the Federal Government on allegations of money laundering. In that ruling, made on an ex-parte motion moved by Yusuf, the judge also directed the commission to publish the order on its website and in Daily Trust newspaper.

The judge instructed that interested parties should show cause within 14 days of the publication why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.

Mr. Orji, who also served as a two-term senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District before his retirement from active politics, is at the center of the investigation.

The anti-graft agency had, in the ex-parte motion marked FHC/ABJ/CS/03/V/2025, brought the suit under Section 44(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006. The motion, dated Dec. 30, 2024, and filed on Jan. 2, by Yusuf, was also brought under the court’s inherent jurisdiction.

The lawyer sought an order granting the interim freezing and forfeiture of N228,497,773.12 domiciled with Keystone Bank, as set out in the schedule attached to the Federal Government of Nigeria.

In her five-ground argument, Yusuf stated that the money described in the schedule was the subject matter of an investigation by the EFCC and was found in the possession of Effdee Nigeria Ltd. She said it was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.

“Effdee Nigeria Ltd is alleged to have conspired with others to defraud the Abia State Government, including conspiracy, abuse of office, obtaining money by false pretenses, money laundering, and diversion of public funds,” Yusuf said.

“Effdee Nigeria Ltd, in whose possession the monies were found, is reasonably suspected to have conspired with Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji, the former Governor of Abia State, some officials in his administration, and his family members,” she continued.

Yusuf explained that they were under investigation by the EFCC for the allegations, following intelligence reports received against Orji.

According to her, there is a need to preserve the monies pending investigation and/or prosecution.

The anti-graft agency had, on Feb. 28, arraigned Orji and his son, Chinedum, a former Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Dr. Philip Nto, a former Commissioner for Finance, and others on an alleged N47 billion fraud.

The other defendants include government contractor Obioma King and former Director of Finance in the state, Romanus Madu.

The defendants, who pleaded not guilty, are facing a 16-count charge related to the alleged misappropriation of funds. They were, however, admitted to bail in the sum of N50 million.