The Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an order for the interim freezing and forfeiture of over 497.7 million Naira linked to Theodore Orji, a former governor of Abia State.
Justice Emeka Nwite granted this interim forfeiture order following an ex parte application from the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Fadila Yusuf, the counsel for the EFCC, appeared before the judge and emphasized that the forfeiture is critical to the investigation into money laundering allegations against Orji.
After approving the forfeiture order, Justice Nwite instructed the EFCC to publish the order in a newspaper to notify any interested parties.
Orji served as the governor of Abia State for two terms and later as a senator representing the Abia Central Senatorial District before retiring from active politics.
In the ex parte motion, marked FHC/ABJ/CS/03/V/2025 and dated December 30, 2024, the EFCC requested an interim freezing and forfeiture order for the sum of 497,773.12 Naira held with Keystone Bank, as detailed in the schedule attached to the application.
The EFCC stated that the funds were discovered in Effdee Nigeria Ltd.’s possession and are suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
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The commission alleges that Effdee Nigeria Ltd conspired with Orji, officials from his administration, and his family members to defraud the Abia State Government through conspiracy, abuse of office, money laundering, and diversion of public funds.
In an affidavit supporting the ex parte application, Tahir Ahmed, a litigation officer with the EFCC, explained that between 2016 and 2017, the commission received intelligence implicating Orji, his associates, and family members.
He stated that Effdee Nigeria Ltd, which operates as a sewage and waste disposal company, was allegedly used to launder funds belonging to the Abia State Government.
Ahmed further alleged that the company funnelled money from government accounts with the assistance of bank officials.
He claimed that a divisional head at a bank in Umuahia acted as a middleman between Effdee Nigeria Ltd and Erondu Uchenna Erondu, a Special Adviser during Orji’s administration.
The funds were allegedly distributed to specific customer accounts, withdrawn in cash, and then returned to the Special Adviser at the Government House.
Following the interim forfeiture order, Justice Nwite instructed that anyone interested in the funds must appear before him within 14 days to show cause as to why the funds should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
He has adjourned the case until February 3 for a report on compliance.
