The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Friday, arraigned former Abia State governor, Chief Theodore Orji, his son, Chinedum Orji and three others, Dr. Phillip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma, and Romanus K. Madu, before an Abia State High Court, Umuahia, presided over by Justice Lillian Abai, over an alleged N60.85 billion fraud.
They were among others, accused of converting N10.5bn from a loan granted by First Bank Plc, meant for the state government, and its local governments, along with N2bn from Central Bank of Nigeria funds designated for small and medium enterprises.
Count 1 of the charge reads: “That you Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, Chinedum Orji, Dr. Phillip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma and Romanus K. Madu, sometimes in 2015 in Umuahia Abia State, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired among yourselves to commit unlawful acts to wit, stealing and conversion of the sum N2b being the proceeds of the Central Bank of Nigeria Funds for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) allocated to Abia State and thereby committed an offence contrary to the provision of Section 516 and 516(A) c the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. The defence team, including Bode Olanipekun (SAN) (for the first defendant), Chikaosulu Ojukwu (SAN) (for the second defendant), K.I. Oleh, Okey Amechi (SAN), and Isaac Anya for others, filed bail applications on behalf of their clients. The prosecution counsel, Pinheiro did not object to the bail applications. Justice Abai granted the defendants bail and adjourned till June 18 and 19, 2025 for trial.
Credit: The Sun