Another Abia Senator and Former Gov. T. A. Orji May Soon Be Jailed.

Following the success recorded in the prosecution of his predecessor, Orji Uzor Kalu, who is currently serving his jail term in Kirikiri Correctional Centre in Lagos by EFCC over fraud charges; his successor and 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, on January 21, 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. 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 we’re gathering 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 have been invited by the EFCC to make statements on the governor’s case.

It is on record that, this is not the first time Senator T. A Orji is testing the tune of the Commission over fraud allegations. As a Chief of Staff to the jailed former Gov.Orji Kalu, Ochendo as he is popularly called, was charged with money laundering by the same EFCC prior to 2007 elections which he contested and won, with the incumbent power of his former boss OUK, while in detention at the same Kirikiri Prison which has become the current address of his predecessor, Orji Uzor Kalu, who himself is a serving senator representing Abia north Senatorial Zone at the National Assembly.

VTMONEY

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