…May lose senate seat
An Abuja-based lawyer may have worsened the woes of Senator Theodore Orji and his son, Chinedum Orji who are undergoing investigations for alleged fraud in excess of N150billion.
The lawyer, Chinwendu Nduka-Edede, a constitutional lawyer and anti-corruption crusader has petitioned the Code of Conduct Bureau demanding investigation of Senator Orji and his son, Chinedum, who is also the Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly.
The petition, obtained by Crimefacts.news, dated February 12 cited the outcome of the ongoing investigation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commissions (EFCC) which chronicles more than 150 bank accounts belonging to Chinedum Orji and humongous cash deposits in Naira and Dollars without any evidence of good traded or services rendered for such cash inflow.
The EFCC report also observed that huge amounts of cash in Naira and Dollars were often withdrawn in cash and deposited in cash, apparently to forestall tracking of the funds.
Funds in excess of N150 billion were traced to the Orjis and the lawyer, Chinwendu Nduka-Edede based on the findings, is asking the CCB to investigate the Orjis and determine if all the huge assets traced to them were declared in full, in compliance with the code of conduct for public officers.
The petition read in part: “It is in view of the above revelation that I petition your office for immediate investigation of Senator Theodore Ahamefula Orji and Hon. Chinedum Orji to ascertain whether the above revelation from the investigation of the EFCC were declared by them to your office and recommend them if the answer is in the negative, to the Code of Conduct Tribunal for immediate trial and possible conviction.
Crimefacts.news reports that the petition which was received, endorsed and acknowledged by the Code of Conduct Bureau same February 2, 2020 also cited another petition dated March 17, 2017 filed by ‘Fight Corruption: Save Nigeria Group’ alleging that the former Abia governor, Theodore Orji was receiving and diverting various sums of monies that accrued to Abia State.
“Such monies the petition alleged were:
*N383 billion revenue from federal accounts
*N55 billion Excess Crude Revenue
*N2.3 billion Sure-P
*N1.8 billion Ecological funds
*N10.5 billion loan from First Bank of Nigeria through the Ministry of Chieftaincy and Local Government Affairs.
*N4 billion loan from Diamond Bank
*N12 billion Paris Club refund
*N2 billion Agricultural loan for farmers
*N55 billion ASOPADEC
“The petitioners maintained that there was nothing on ground to justify or commensurate to the huge funds received by Abia state government.
Senator Theodore Orji and his son, Chinedum Orji may consequently lose their seats in the Senate and the Abia State House of Assembly respectively, if they are convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
Meanwhile the leadership of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) in Abia state has called for the immediate resignation of Senator Theodore Orji from the Senate following his reported indictment in the misappropriation of N150billion of state fund when he was governor of Abia state.
The party also called on the former governor’s son, Hon. Chinedum Orji to toe the path of honour, step down from the Speakership of the Abia parliament and withdraw from the Assembly while the investigations into their ‘monstrous financial atrocities’ last.
The call was contained in a statement made available to Crimefacts.news, signed by theState Publicity Secretary of the party, Ebere Uzoukwa and a representative of Dr. Alex Otti, the Governorship candidate of the party in the last general election, Ferdinand Ekeoma.
It read in part: “It is our considered view that given the damaging revelations, both father and son should step down from their legislative duties and face their matters in EFCC and now the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) as they have lost the moral right to represent the people of Abia, much more preside over untainted legislators in the state Assembly. This is without prejudice to their right to be heard in court, should they choose to defend the weighty allegations.”
The statement continued: “We understand that millions of Abians in particular and Nigerians in general have been expressing shock, disbelief and anger over the report due to the magnitude of the thievery and therefore join Abians in solidarity at this moment of sadness and sobriety.
“We believe that the very in-depth report has confirmed our leader, Alex Otti’s long held view that the former governor presided over an era of mindless kleptocracy as governor while continuing his toxic superintendence as a destructive godfather, with the attendant consequences of failure and underdevelopment.
“Like millions of Abians and Nigerians, we believe that Orji and his son committed the kind of financial crimes that bore the trademark of incurable lunacy, and left the legacies of impunity, ruins and absolute destruction which have placed the burden of perpetual suffering, sorrow and subjugation on millions of Abians.”
The party enjoins Abia people to remain strong and vigilant even as the EFCC and CCB continues with their investigations aimed at returning all looted Abia funds as well as bringing perpetrators of financial crimes against Abia state to justice.
APGA stressed without equivocation that the present EFCC and CCB investigations amount to a huge blessing to Abia state as it would help correct all false narratives consistently peddled by the Abia State government; the suspects and their idle appointees against innocent Abians, and unmask all those who have played one role or another in the plundering and destruction of Abia state.
