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A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued an order for the temporary freezing and forfeiture of more than N228.4 million allegedly connected to Theodore Orji, the former Governor of Abia State. The funds are suspected to have been part of a larger money laundering operation, with the court’s action serving as a crucial step in the government’s crackdown on financial misconduct within the political elite.
Justice Emeka Nwite, while delivering a ruling on an ex-parte motion moved by Fadila Yusuf, representing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), further instructed that the details of the order be published on the EFCC’s website. This publication is aimed at ensuring that the judicial proceedings related to the forfeiture of the funds associated with Theodore Orji are made accessible to the public, maintaining transparency in the handling of the case
As per Justice Nwite’s directive, individuals or entities with a vested interest in the case have 14 days from the order’s publication to provide justifications for contesting the ruling. The judge has set the next hearing for February 3, where the court will review the status of compliance with the order, keeping the momentum of the case moving forward as it addresses the issues of corruption and illicit wealth.
Theodore Orji, who served two terms as senator for Abia Central Senatorial District, reportedly retired from active politics after years of public service. His career in the Senate was a defining chapter in his political life, where he played a notable role in shaping legislative decisions that impacted his district and the nation.
The anti-graft agency had, in the motion ex-parte marked: HC/ABJ/CS/03/V/2025, brought the suit pursuant to 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 Jan. 2 by Yusuf, was also brought under the inherent jurisdiction of the court.
The lawyer sought an order granting an interim freezing and forfeiture of the sum of N228, 497, 773.12 domiciled with Keystone Bank set out in the schedule attached to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
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She also sought “an order authorising the commission to make publication of interim freezing/forfeiture order made by this honourable court on the EFCC website and Daily Trust Newspaper and the interested parties to show cause within 14 days of the publication of the order.”
The lawyer, in her five-ground argument, said the money described in the schedule was subject matter of investigation by the EFCC and 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 Abia State government to wit: conspiracy, abuse of office, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering and diversion of public funds.
“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 the former governor’s administration and his family members,” she said.
Yusuf said they were being investigated by EFCC for the allegations following intelligence report received by the commission against Orji.
According to her, there is need to preserve the monies pending investigation and/or prosecution.
Tahir Ahmed, a litigation officer with EFCC, said sometimes between 2016 and 2017, the commission received an intelligence report against Sen. Orji, some officials in his administration and his family members.
He averred that Effdee Nigeria Limited, a sewage and waste disposal entity, was used by the former governor, some officials in his administration and his family members for the diversion and laundering of Abia government funds while Orji was in office.
