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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on
Friday, February 28, 2025, arraigned former Abia State Governor, Theodore
Ahamefule Orji, Engr. Chinedum Orji, Dr. Philip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma
and Romanus K. Madu before Justice Lilian Abai of the Federal High Court
sitting in Umuahia, Abia State on a sixteen-count charge bordering
on conspiracy, official corruption, stealing and diversion of public
funds.
The offence contravenes Section 516 and 516(a)
of the Criminal Code, Law of Abia State and punishable under the same Section
of the same Act.
One of the count charges reads:
That you Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, ENGR. Chinedum
Orji, Dr. Phillip 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 a 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 and thereby committed an offence contrary to
the provision of Section 390 (5) of the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.
Another count reads
That you Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, ENGR. Chinedum
Orji, Dr. Phillip 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 the funds due to Abia State from the Paris Club Refund and
thereby committed an offence contrary to the provisions of Sections 516 and
516(a) of the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.
All the defendants pleaded "not guilty" to
all the charges when they were read to them, following which prosecution
counsel, Dr. Pinheiro SAN, prayed the court to fix a date for commencement of
trial.
Counsel to 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th defendant, Bode
Olanipekun, SAN, Chika Osolu Ojukwu, SAN, K.I
Odeh, Oke Amaechi, SAN and Isaac Anya informed the court of their
respective applications for the bail of the defendants.
Counsel to 1st defendant, Bode Olanipekun prayed
the court to grant his client bail to enable him to stand trial. All
other defence counsels made the same pleas before the court.
Justice Obai in her ruling, granted the defendants
bail in the sum of Fifty Million Naira (N50,000,000.00) each, one surety in
like sum, surety must have a landed property in Umuahia and must show evidence
of Certificate of Occupancy
Additionally, surety must depose an affidavit of
means and deposit two recent passport photographs with the court.
Defendants must also deposit their international
passports with the court registrar.
The judge adjourned the matter to June 18
and 19, 2025 for commencement of trial.
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