The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned a former Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji over 16-count charges.
The former senator representing Abia Central senatorial district was arraigned alongside four other suspects.
Orji was Governor of Abia between 2007 and 2015 before he joined the senate in 2015.
In 2018, the Anti-graft Agency accused Orji of mismanaging billions of naira during his tenure as Governor of Abia.
According to a petition filed against him by the EFCC, monies were allegedly taken from excess crude revenue, ecological funds, as well as loans from First Bank of Nigeria, through the ministry of chieftaincy and local government affairs, and N4 billion from Diamond Bank.
The five defendants are Orji; his son Engineer Chinedum Orji; a former Commissioner of Finance for Abia State Philip Nto, a government contractor Obioma King; and a former Director of Finance for Abia State, Romas Madu.
They were brought before the Chief Judge, Justice Lilian Abai on a 16-count charge bothering on conspiracy to steal and convert billions of naira meant for various Government programmes.
They are accused of misappropriating N22.5 billion allocated for security votes from 2011 to 2015. Stealing N13 billion from a loan facility granted by Diamond Bank. Illegal conversion of N12 billion from the Paris Club refund and converting N10.5 billion from a loan granted by First Bank, meant for the Abia State Government and its local councils, along with N2 billion from Central Bank of Nigeria funds designated for small and medium enterprises.
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All five defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Defence counsel, including Wole Olanipekun SAN, representing the first defendant, Chikaosulu Ojukwu SAN, for the second defendant, K.I. Oleh Esq., Okey Amechi SAN, and Isaac Anya Esq., filed bail applications on behalf of their clients.
While the prosecution, led by kemi Pinheiro,SAN did not object to the bail requests, they prayed the Court to use its discretion when determining the conditions of bail.
After a brief stand down, Justice Abai granted the defendants bail and adjourned till June 18th and 19th, 2025 for trial.
( Editor : Paul Akhagbemhe )
