Former Abia State governor, Theodore Orji, and his son, Chinedum Orji, have been dragged before the Abia State High Court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over alleged misappropriation of N47 billion.
Orji, who governed Abia State from 2007 to 2015, was arraigned alongside his son, a former Commissioner of Finance, Dr. Philip Nto, a government contractor, Obioma King, and a former Director of Finance, Romas Madu.
The EFCC’s sixteen charge accuses the defendants of siphoning N22.5 billion meant for security votes between 2011 and 2015.
They are also alleged to have diverted N13 billion from a loan obtained from the defunct Diamond Bank, alongside N12 billion from the Paris Club refund.
Further accusations include the illegal conversion of N10.5 billion from a First Bank loan meant for state and local government projects, as well as N2 billion from Central Bank of Nigeria funds designated for small and medium enterprises.
The defendants pleaded not guilty, and their legal team, led by Senior Advocates of Nigeria Bode Olanipekun, Chikaosulu Ojukwu, K.I. Oleh, Okey Amechi, and Isaac Anya, applied for bail. The EFCC’s lead prosecutor, Prof. Kemi Pinheiro, did not oppose the bail request.
After a brief recess, Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Lilian Abai, granted bail to all defendants and adjourned the case to June 18 and 19, 2025, for trial.
