By Onozure Dania
A former Governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, and four others were on Friday arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission before the Abia State High Court over alleged misappropriation of N47bn.
Orji was arraigned alongside his son, Chinedum Orji, a former Commissioner of Finance for Abia State, Dr. Philip Nto, a government contractor, Obioma King, and a former Director of Finance for Abia State, Romas Madu.
They are facing 16 counts of conspiracy to steal and conversion of billions of naira meant for various government programmes preferred against them by the EFCC.
When the matter which was before the Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Lilian Abai, was called, the EFCC’s lead prosecution counsel, Prof. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), requested that the charge be read to the defendants to allow them to enter their pleas.
The EFCC accused them of misappropriating N22.5bn allocated for security votes from 2011 to 2015.
They were also accused of allegedly stealing N13bn from a loan facility granted by the defunct Diamond Bank.
The commission alleged that they illegally converted N12bn from the Paris Club refund.
They were also accused of converting N10.5bn from a loan granted by First Bank, meant for the state government and its local governments, along with N2bn from Central Bank of Nigeria funds designated for small and medium enterprises.
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges against them.
The defence team, including Bode Olanipekun (SAN) (representing the first defendant), Chikaosulu Ojukwu (SAN) (for the second defendant), K.I. Oleh, Okey Amechi (SAN), and Isaac Anya filed bail applications on behalf of their clients.
Pinheiro did not object to the bail applications.
They asked 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 18 and 19, 2025, for trial.
