Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court in Abuja on Wednesday issued an interim order of freezing and forfeiture of N228.4 million linked to the former governor of Abia State, Mr Theodore Orji.
The judge gave the ruling in an ex-parte motion moved by the counsel for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ms Fadila Yusuf.
The court also directed the EFCC to make the publication of the order on its website and Daily Trust Newspaper.
The matter was adjourned to February 3 for a report of compliance.
Recall that the EFCC had, in the motion ex-parte marked FHC/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 December 30, 2024 and filed on January 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 N228, 497, 773. 12 domiciled in Keystone Bank.
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.”
In her five-ground argument, she said the money described in the schedule was the subject matter of investigation by the EFCC and found in the possession of Effdee Nigeria Ltd.
She said it was reasonably suspected to have been 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 further said the accused were being investigated by EFCC for the allegations following intelligence report received by the commission against Orji.
According to her, there was the need to preserve the monies pending investigation and/or prosecution.
A litigation officer with the EFCC, Mr Tahir Ahmed said between 2016 and 2017, the commission received an intelligence report against 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.
“The company was used to siphon funds and divert monies with the aid of some officials of Keystone Bank,
“The Intelligence report was assigned to the Economic Governance Section of the commission for investigation,” he said.
He said the team commenced investigation into the case which led to the arrest of the divisional head of Keystone Bank Plc in Umuahia, Mr Austin Akuma, who was found to have been the middleman between the contractor (Effdee Nigeria Limited) and Mr Erondu Uchenna Erondu, special adviser, general duties to Orji.
He alleged that the banker, in a statement made upon words of caution at the EFCC office, stated that it was agreed between him (Akuma) and Erondu that the contractor’s company, Effdee Nigeria Limited, would be used to receive funds from Abia State Government accounts.
“Thereafter the contractor would distribute these monies to several accounts of specific customers of the bank to be provided by the banker after which these various customers would withdraw cash and return same to the banker who in turn takes the cash to the special adviser in the government house,” he declared and attached the statements made as Exhibit EFCC 1.
According to him, letters of investigation activities were also written to Keystone Bank and analysis of the statement of the account of Effdee Nigeria Limited revealed substantial inflow from various agencies in Abia State, leaving a balance of N228, 497, 773.12.
Ahmed, however, said investigation was still ongoing in relation to the allegations received against the suspects.
He said there was the need to preserve the res to prevent the dissipation of the monies pending the conclusion of investigation and conclusion of the multifarious criminal complaints and ongoing investigations pertaining to the suspects.
After Yusuf moved the motion, Nwite said the application was meritorious and granted the prayers.
With NAN report
