15th August 2025, NewsOrient, News, Law And Society, Governance And Development

A socio-political group, The Abia Torchlight, has commended the Executive Chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Olanipekun Olukoyede, for prosecuting former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji and his son, Chinedum over the multi-billion naira frauds they allegedly perpetrated against Abia State.

The group said the EFCC chairman’s action is unlike the actions of his predecessors who sat on the fraud cases all through their tenures.

The group however alerted the EFCC boss to take notice that some elements have been recruited through corrupt individuals to compromise EFCC officials and EFCC lawyers in a bid to frustrate the fraud cases involving the Orjis and some of their associates.

A statement from the group, signed by the Coordinator, Oguwuike Umunnakwe, said: “We commend the current EFCC chairman, Olanipekun Olukoyede, for his rare courage in taking to the court, some parts of the multiple fraud offences allegedly committed by former Abia State Governor, Theodore Orji and his son, Engr. Chinedum Orji, and three others.

“By this singular act, this EFCC boss has renewed the people’s hope that the super rich are not really above the law.

“We however use this opportunity to inform the EFCC boss that some sinister moves are being made through some powerful individuals to frustrate the ongoing and future litigations against the Orjis on the alleged frauds.

“Part of the strategy, we learnt, is to compromise EFCC investigating officials and lawyers to commit deliberate blunders or omissions that will weaken or destroy the cases on technical grounds.

“EFCC chairmen before this current one sat on the multi-billion naira fraud allegedly perpetrated against Abia State by ex-governor Theodore Orji and his sons.

“While commending the EFCC boss for his courage, we call on him and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration not to accept plea bargain option, which we learnt the Orjis are also putting on the table. The matters should be tried on merit. We, like aggrieved Abia citizens, are of the view that in no other state of Nigeria was so much fraud perpetrated against the people as was done to Abia State during Theodore Orji’s two terms and during the two terms of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. So, we think that mere plea bargain will not approximate to justice here. Abia’s stolen wealth should be retrieved in full.

“It is for this reason that we call on EFCC and it’s Chairman never to compromise but to use the fraud cases involving Theodore Orji, his son and associates as a litmus test to prove that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government is still fighting corruption.

“We say so because we suspect that, Theodore Orji’s son, Engr. Chinedum Orji’s recent entry into All Progressive Congress (APC) is part of the scheme to compromise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over the humongous fraud against Abia State.

“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to be deceived but to allow justice to take it’s course as that is what will pay his government better than defection of finished politicians with so much baggages at the grassroots.

“Instead of helping Tinubu’s reelection in 2027, association with these type of politicians in the Southeast will be unnecessary extra baggages for Tinubu.

“We have also noted that efforts are currently being made to stop credible witnesses from testifying against the Theodore Orji family and their associates if and whenever the trial re-commences.

“We therefore call on Governor Alex Otti-led Abia State Government to ensure the safety of government officials who have been designated as key witnesses in the fraud cases,” the group said.

It would be recalled that EFCC, this year arraigned Ex-Abia State Governor Theodore Orji, his Son, Engr. Chinedum Orji 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 over alleged ₦47bn fraud

In the case, the defendants, including, former Governor Theodore Orji, his son, Engr Chinedum Theodore Orji, Dr. Philip Nto, Obioma King, and Romas Madu, are facing 16-count charges of conspiracy, theft, and fraudulent diversion of public funds.

In it’s statement of claim, the EFCC alleges that the defendants diverted ₦22.5 billion in security votes, ₦13 billion from a Diamond Bank loan, and ₦12 billion from the Paris Club refund.

All the defendants pleaded not guilty, and the trial judge granted them bail.

~ Published By NewsOrient Network

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