Abuja, Nigeria – Former Governor of Abia State and current Senator representing Abia Central, Chief Theodore Orji, don sharply reply to reports wey link am to fraud wey involve Effdee Nigeria Limited. E call di claims false and malicious.
For statement wey his liaison office release, Senator Orji talk say di publication wey claim say him dey involved in financial impropriety bi one plan wey waka come to spoil im good name and mislead di public. E add say di authors of di report no bother verify wetin dem talk, mentioning say dem follow wrong timeline to suggest say him still dey govern in 2016 and 2017, when e tenure don finish since May 2015.
Di lawmaker still clear say him no get any connection with Mr. Uchenna Erondu and Mr. Austin Akuma, insisting say dem no get any official role during him time as Governor. E emphasize say him no sabi Effdee Nigeria Limited at all, and him no ever do any business with dem.
“Di publication dey full of falsehoods and e dey clearly plan to tarnish di image of person wey don serve him state and country with integrity,” di statement talk. E dey urge di publishers to withdraw di story from all channels, including newspapers and online outlets, and make apology wey no get any reservations.
Senator Orji also reaffirm say hin go continue to uphold di values of public service, and dem no go fit pull am down with any baseless allegations.
Meanwhile, he dey react to di reports wey follow di motion wey di Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) file before di Federal High Court, Abuja. Di court don set May 28 for hearing of di motion wey di EFCC dey request for final forfeiture of N228.4 million wey dem link to Orji.
Justice Emeka Nwite don choose dis date after EFCC lawyer, Fadila Yusuf, tok say dem don comply with di earlier order to publish di report as di court direct. Yusuf don ask di court for date to continue di motion, and Justice Nwite grant am the request.
Di EFCC, for di supporting affidavit, claim say di money na subject of investigation wey dem discover in di possession of Effdee Nigeria Limited. Dey suspect say di funds na proceeds of unlawful activities. Di EFCC clarify say: “Effdee Nigeria Ltd dey alleged to don conspire with others to defraud Abia State Government, wey include conspiracy, abuse of office, obtaining money by false pretense, money laundering, and diversion of public funds.”
Dey also state say di ex-governor and others dey under investigation following di intelligence report wey dem gather against Orji.
