A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Thursday, adjourned proceedings in the N228.4 million forfeiture case against the former governor of Abia state, Theodore Orji till April 7.
The trial Judge, Justice Emeka Nwite adjourned proceedings in the matter following the inability of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to publish the interim forfeiture order of the sum of over N228.4 million linked to Orji.
Justice Nwite had, on January 3, granted an order of temporary freezing of the funds to the Federal Government following allegations of money laundering.
The Judge, in that ruling on an ex-parte motion moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Fadila Yusuf, also directed the Commission to make publication of the order on its website and Daily Trust Newspaper and further directed that interested parties should show cause within 14 days of the publication of the order why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
When the matter was called on Thursday, counsel to the anti-graft agency, Fadila Yusuf, informed the court that the matter was slated for report of compliance with the January 3 order of the court and, however, regretted that the EFCC was yet to carry out the directive.
The lawyer hinged the delay on the inability of her office to access the order on time to enable them place the publication on their website and the newspaper and promised that the order would carried out on Monday.
Yusuf then sought an adjournment to enable the EFCC to do the needful and Justice Nwite, after listening to her submission, adjourned the matter till April 7 for report of compliance.
EFCC, in the motion ex-parte marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/03/V/2025, and filed on January 2 by Yusuf, sought an order granting an interim freezing and forfeiture of the sum of N228, 497, 773. 12 domiciled with Keystone Bank set out in the schedule attached to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
The motion also sought, “an order authorising the commission to make publication of interim freezing/forfeiture order made by this honourable court on the EFCC website and Daily Trust Newspaper and the interested parties to show cause within 14 days of the publication of the order.”
The lawyer, in her five-ground of argument, said the money described in the schedule was subject matter of investigation by the EFCC and found in the possession of Effdee Nigeria Ltd, adding that, it was reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activities.
“Effdee Nigeria Ltd is alleged to have conspired with others to defraud Abia State Government to wit: conspiracy, abuse of office, obtaining money by false pretence, money laundering and diversion of public funds.
“Effdee Nigeria Ltd, in whose possession the monies were found, is reasonably suspected to have conspired with Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji, the former Governor of Abia State, some officials in the former governor’s administration and his family members,” she said.
Yusuf said they were being investigated by EFCC for the allegations following an intelligence report received by the commission against Orji and said, there is need to preserve the monies pending investigation and/or prosecution.
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