The Abuja Division of the Federal High Court has fixed May 28 to hear the motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking the final forfeiture of N228.4 million allegedly linked to former Abia State Governor, Senator Theodore Orji.
Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned the matter after EFCC counsel, Fadila Yusuf, informed the court that the commission had complied with an earlier order to publish the interim forfeiture notice.
Yusuf said the publication had been made on the EFCC’s website and in the newspaper, in accordance with the court’s directive.
“We have complied by publishing the report,” Yusuf told the court, while applying for a new date to move the motion for final forfeiture.
Justice Nwite had initially granted the interim forfeiture order on January 3, 2025, following an ex-parte application brought by the EFCC.
The judge ordered that the sum of N228,497,773.12, domiciled in a Keystone Bank account, be temporarily forfeited to the Nigerian government on suspicion that it was proceeds of unlawful activity.
The court also directed the EFCC to publish the order and instructed any interested parties to appear within 14 days to show cause why the funds should not be permanently forfeited.
However, on February 13, the case was adjourned to April 7 due to the EFCC’s failure to complete the publication process in time.
In the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/03/V/2025, the EFCC alleged that the money was found in the possession of Effdee Nigeria Ltd, which was suspected of conspiring with former Governor Orji, members of his administration, and his family to defraud the Abia State government.
The anti-graft agency cited allegations including conspiracy, abuse of office, money laundering, obtaining by false pretence, and diversion of public funds.
The motion was brought under Section 44(2)(b) of the 1999 Constitution and Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.
Yusuf told the court that the EFCC began investigating the matter following an intelligence report linking Senator Orji and others to the funds.
This development comes as the former governor, his son Chinedum Orji (former Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly), and several others were arraigned on February 28 on a separate N47 billion fraud case.
Other defendants in that case include former finance commissioner Philip Nto, contractor Obioma King, and ex-director of finance Romanus Madu.
They all pleaded not guilty to the 16-count charge and were granted N50million bail each.
Senator Orji, who served two terms as governor and later as senator for Abia Central, has since retired from active politics.
The court is now set to determine whether the funds in question should be permanently forfeited to the government.
Source: Sahara Reporters
