- Court Freezes ₦228.4 Million Funds linked to Theodore Orji frozen over money laundering.
- Funds allegedly laundered through Effdee Nigeria Ltd.
- Interested parties have 14 days to contest the order.
EKO HOT BLOG reports that Justice Emeka Nwite granted the order following an ex-parte motion filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by lawyer Fadila Yusuf.
The judge also directed the EFCC to publish the forfeiture order on its website and in the Daily Trust Newspaper, giving interested parties 14 days to show cause why the funds should not be permanently forfeited.
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The court adjourned the matter to February 3, 2025, for a compliance report.
The EFCC alleged that the funds, found in an account held by Effdee Nigeria Ltd at Keystone Bank, are proceeds of unlawful activities involving Orji, members of his administration, and his family. Effdee Nigeria Ltd is accused of being a conduit for laundering public funds during Orji’s tenure as governor.
According to the EFCC, the funds were funneled from Abia State Government accounts into Effdee Nigeria Ltd’s account and subsequently distributed to specific individuals, with cash returned to the government house through intermediaries.
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The anti-graft agency detailed its investigation, which began after receiving intelligence reports between 2016 and 2017. Evidence includes statements from a Keystone Bank official, Austin Akuma, who admitted facilitating the transactions with Erondu Uchenna Erondu, a Special Adviser in Orji’s administration.
Justice Nwite found the EFCC’s application meritorious and approved the interim freezing order to preserve the funds while investigations and potential prosecutions continue.
