EFCC grills ex-Abia gov Theodore Orji, over alleged N27bn fraud

The immediate past Governor of Abia State, Senator Theodore
Orji, is currently being interrogated by the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission.

It was learnt that Orji, who was governor from 2007 to 2015,
arrived at the EFCC office in Abuja, along with his lawyer, in a
cream long-sleeve Niger Delta outfit popularly referred to as
‘senator.’

Orji, who represents Abia-Central senatorial district at the
National Assembly, was invited over allegations that he mismanaged
about N27bn.

The invitation, it was learnt, was sequel to a series of
petitions written against the former governor shortly after he left
office in 2015.

The EFCC was said to have commenced investigation soon after,
but was waiting for enough evidence before inviting him.

Among the allegations levelled against the former governor was
that he diverted billions of naira disbursed to Abia State by the
Central Bank of Nigeria for Small and Medium Enterprise.

The lawmaker was also alleged to have diverted money from the
Ecological Fund account, which should have been used in tackling
erosion and other disasters peculiar to the state.

The ex-governor allegedly diverted money from the Abia State Oil
Producing Development Area Commission, an agency of government set
up for the development of the oil producing areas in Abia State

Orji allegedly used the funds to buy properties in Abia, Port
Harcourt and Abuja, some of which the EFCC is planning to
seize.

It was learnt that officials from the Office of the
Attorney-General of the Federation, the Central Bank of Nigeria,
commercial banks and other agencies had been invited by the EFCC to
make statements on the governor’s case.

As of the time of filing this report, he was still said to be at
the Commission making statements.

When contacted on the telephone, the acting spokesman for the
EFCC, Mr. Tony Orilade, did not respond to calls.

In a text message, however, he said, “Yes. It is true that we
have the former Abia governor with us.

“But I cannot say more than that. When it is time to press
charges, we shall do that and the story will be in the media.”

Related

INEC Director, 22 Staff Arraign over N40m Fraud in
Kogi

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has arraigned
22 officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC
and a retired INEC director, Ahmed Stephen Ozouche, in Kogi State
for offences bordering on criminal conspiracy.

They were arraigned before Justice Alaba Ajileye of the Kogi
State High Court, Koton-Karefee.

It was alleged that sometimes in March 2015, the defendants
engaged themselves in criminal act of conspiracy to fraudulently
obtain the sum of N32, 120,000 (Thirty two Million, One Hundred and
Twenty Thousand Naira) only as benefits to themselves during the
2015 general elections.

Prosecuting counsel, G.K. Latona, informed the court that the
matter was slated for arraignment. “However, due to the absence of
the second defendant, I will be seeking for a short adjournment to
enable me determine the next step to take regarding the matter,” he
said.

The defendant was said to be among the INEC staff that lost
their lives in a tragic motor accident that occurred in Kogi
recently.

The defence team, however, argued that “the prosecution ought to
have known by now that the second defendant cannot be in court to
take his plea”, and so urged the court to take the plea of the
defendants in court. Justice Ajileye, thereafter, ordered those
present should take their pleas.

One of the counts reads: “That you Ahmed Stephen Ozovehe,
Retired Director with Independent National Electoral Commission
(INEC)/ Election Observer, Adison Mailafiya Administrative
Secretary INEC Kogi State and Ogwudu Edeh Micheal, Deputy Director,
INEC sometime in March 2015 in Lokoja within the Jurisdiction of
this Honorable Court did engage yourselves in criminal conspiracy
to confer benefit of the sum of N32,120,000 (Thirty two million,
one hundred and twenty thousand naira) only from Haliru Haruna,
Sase David Z, Dauda Usman Umaru, Christopher Utile, Garba Zubairu
Adamu and James Yiyeh all electoral officers of INEC in Kogi State
in relation to their function of conducting the General Elections,
2015 and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26(1)(i)
of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Act. 2000 and
punishable under Section 10(a)(ii) of the same Act.”

They all pleaded “not guilty” when the charge was read to
them.

They were afterwards admitted to bail in the sum of N10 million,
one surety in like sum, the surety must not be below level 12 and
must be a Civil Servant (State or Federal).

Matter has been adjourned to December 6 and 13, 2018 for
hearing.

In another development, the EFCC also arraigned Helena Chinelo
Odogwu a cash officer at United Bank for Africa, Adankolo Branch
Lokoja, before Justice Ajileye on a one-count charge bordering on
theft and misappropriation of N8 million ( Eight Million naira)
only.

It was alleged by a petitioner that the defendant stole from the
vault and misappropriated the said sum of money when she was the
cash officer.

In the course of the investigation it was discovered that N8m
was missing from the vault and the defendant manipulated the record
of the bank to conceal the fraudulent act.

The charge reads: “That you Helena Chinelo Odogwu on or about
the 17th day of July, 2018 in Lokoja within the Jurisdiction of
this Honourable Court while being the cash officer of Adankolol
branch of United Bank of Africa (UBA) Lokoja, stole the sum of
Eight Million Naira (N8, 000,000) being money belonging to the
United Bank for Africa and thereby committed an offence contrary to
Section 286 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 287
of the same Act.”

The defendant pleaded “not guilty” to the charge.

The defendant was thereafter admitted to bail in sum of N5m, one
surety in like sum; surety must not be below the level of a
principal officer.

Matter has been adjourned to December 13, 2018 for hearing.

Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity