The defendants were brought before the Abia State High Court in Umuahia on a 16-count charge of money laundering.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Friday, February 28, 2025, arraigned former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji and four others before Justice Lilian Abai over an alleged N60.85 billion fraud.

The defendants were brought before the Abia State High Court in Umuahia on a 16-count charge of money laundering.

They are accused of embezzling N60.85 billion from the state government's funds.

The case is filed by the Federal Republic of Nigeria as the complainant against Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, Engr. Chinedum Orji, Dr. Phillip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma, and Romanus K. Madu, listed as the 1st to 5th defendants, respectively.

In the court documents obtained by SaharaReporters, Count 1 reads, “That you Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, Engr Chinedum Orji, Dr. Phillip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma and Romanus K. Madu, sometime in 2015 in Umuahia Abia State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired among yourselves to commit unlawful acts to wit, stealing and conversion of the sum N2,000,000,000.00 (Two Billion Naira Only) being the proceeds of the Central Bank of Nigeria Funds for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) allocated to Abia State an thereby committed an offence contrary to the provision of Section 516 and 516(A) c the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.”

Another count reads, “That you Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, Engr Chinedum Orji, Dr. Philip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma and Romanus K. Madu, sometime in 2013 in Umuahia, Abia State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired among yourselves to commit unlawful acts to wit stealing and conversion of the sum of 850,000,000.00 (Eight Hundred and Fifty Million Naira Only) being the funds allocated to Abia State for ecological projects and thereby committed an offence contrary to the provision of Section 516 and 516(A) of the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.”

Count 7 reads, “That you Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, Engr Chinedum Orji, Dr. Phillip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma and Romanus K. Madu, sometime between 2011 and 2015 in Umuahia, Abia State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired among yourselves to commit unlawful acts to wit, stealing and conversion. to the tune of N22,500,000,000.00 (Twenty-Two Billion, Five Hundred Million. Naira Only) being the funds allocated to the Abia State Government as security votes and thereby committed an offence contrary to the provision of Sections 516 and 516(A) of the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.”

Count 10 reads, “That you Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, Engr Chinedum Orji, Dr. Phillip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma and Romanus K. Madu, sometime between 2010 and 2011 in Umuahia, Abia State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court conspired among yourselves to commit unlawful acts to wit, stealing and conversion of the sum of N12,000,000,000.00 (Twelve Billion Naira Only) being the funds due to Abia State from the Paris Club Refund and thereby committed an offence contrary the provisions of Sections 516 and 516(A) of the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.”

Another count reads, “That you Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, Engr Chinedum Orji, Dr. Phillip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma and Romanus K. Madu, sometime in 2015 in Umuahia, Abla State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed unlawful acts to wit, stealing and conversion of the sum of N13,000,000,000.00 (Thirteen Billion Naira Only) being the proceeds of the loan facility granted by the then Diamond Bank Pic to the Abia State Government and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 390 (5) of the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.”

Count 15 reads, “That you Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, Engr Chinedum Orji, Dr. Phillip Nto, Onwumene King Obioma and Romanus K. Madu, sometime in 2012 in Umuahia, Abia State within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court committed unlawful acts to wit, stealing and conversion of the sum of-N10,500,000,000.00 (Ten Billion, Five Hundred Million Naira Only) being the proceeds of the loan facility granted by First Bank Pic for the benefits of the Abla State Government and the Abia State Local Government Councils and thereby committed an offence contrary to the provisions of Sections 98 and 104 of the Criminal Code Law of Abia State.”