The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has filed 16-count charges against a former governor of Abia State, Theodore Orji, and his son, Chinedum, for allegedly misappropriating the sum of N47bn.
Orji was arraigned with his son and 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, before the Abia State High Court on Friday.
The EFCC alleged that Orji and other accused persons misappropriated N22.5bn allocated for security votes from 2011 to 2015.
They were also accused of stealing N13bn from a loan facility granted by the defunct Diamond Bank.
According to the commission, the accused persons 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 the Central Bank of Nigeria funds designated for small and medium enterprises.
However, the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The defence team, Bode Olanipekun, SAN, Chikaosulu Ojukwu, SAN, K.I. Oleh, Okey Amechi, SAN, and Isaac Anya, filed bail applications for the defendants.
The EFCC’s lead prosecution counsel, Prof. Kemi Pinheiro, did not object to the bail applications.
After a brief stand down, the Chief Judge of Abia State, Justice Lilian Abai, granted bail to the defendants and adjourned the case till June 18 and 19, 2025, for trial.
PUNCH
