Court Grants Bail to Ex-Abia Governor Orji, Four Others in ₦34 Billion Fraud Case

The Federal High Court in Umuahia, Abia State, has granted bail to former Abia State Governor, Theodore Ahamefule Orji, and four others in the sum of ₦50 million each.

In her ruling on Friday, February 28, 2025, Justice Lilian Abai ordered the defendants to deposit their international passports with the court registrar as part of the bail conditions. Each defendant must also provide a surety with a landed property in Umuahia, backed by a Certificate of Occupancy, along with an affidavit of means and two recent passport photographs.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had arraigned Orji alongside Engr. Chinedum Orji, Dr. Philip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma, and Romanus K. Madu on a 16-count charge of conspiracy, official corruption, stealing, and diversion of public funds exceeding ₦34 billion.

One of the charges alleges that between 2011 and 2015, the defendants stole and converted ₦22.5 billion allocated to the Abia State Government as security votes. Another count accuses them of conspiring to divert ₦12 billion from the Paris Club Refund between 2010 and 2011.

The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to all charges. While EFCC’s prosecution counsel, Dr. Pinheiro SAN, urged the court to set a trial date, defense lawyers led by Bode Olanipekun SAN and others sought bail for their clients.

After reviewing the applications, Justice Abai granted bail under the specified conditions and adjourned the case to June 18 and 19, 2025, for trial.