Court adjourns hearing of ex-Gov Orji’s N228.4m forfeiture case to April 7

Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on Thursday, adjourned the hearing in the N228.4 million forfeiture case against the former Abia State governor, Theodore Orji, till April 7.

The adjournment followed the inability of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to publish the interim forfeiture order of the funds linked to Orji.

The judge had on January 3, granted the temporary forfeiture of the funds to the Federal Government over alleged money laundering.

Orji also served as a two-term senator representing Abia Central Senatorial District before he retired from active politics.

Justice Nwite, who delivered the ruling on an ex-parte motion moved by the EFCC’s lawyer, Fadila Yusuf, also directed the commission to publish the order on its website and Daily Trust Newspaper.

He directed that interested parties should show cause within 14 days of the publication of the order why the money should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.

READ ALSO: EFCC releases ex-gov of Abia, Theodore Orji

When the matter was called on Thursday, the EFCC’s lawyer informed the court that the matter was slated for the report of compliance with the January 3 order.

She, however, expressed regret that the commission was yet to carry out the directive.

The lawyer attributed the delay to the inability of her office to access the order on time to enable them to place the publication on the website and the newspaper.

Yusuf said: “We promise that by Monday, the order would have been carried out.”

She then sought an adjournment to enable the commission to publish the order.

After listening to the lawyer’s submission, Justice Nwite adjourned the matter till April 7 for the report of compliance.

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