Theodore Orji

Theodore Ahamefule Orji CON
Theodore Ahamefule Orji CON
8th Governor of Abia State
	In office; May 29, 2007 – May 29, 2015
Preceded by	Orji Uzor Kalu
Succeeded by	Okezie Ikpeazu
Personal details
Born	1944; Abia State, Nigeria
Political party	People's Democratic Party (PDP)

Theodore Ahamefule Orji CON is a Nigerian Politician who is a former governor of Abia State,^[1] in southeast Nigeria, on May 29, 2007, and re-elected on April 26, 2011.^[2] He was formerly a career civil servant, and served as the Chief of Staff to Abia Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu.

Background[]

Theodore Ahamefule Orji was born in Amaokwe Ugba, Umuahia – Ibeku in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State in 1950. He attended Santa Crux Secondary School, , Holy Ghost College, Owerri and obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from the University of Ibadan in 1977. He enlisted for the National Youths Corps Scheme on graduation and was deployed to Sokoto State as a teacher at Government Secondary School, Shinkafi, Isa Local Government Area.^[3]^{[citation needed]}

On completion of the National Youth Service Corps Scheme in 1978, Orji began working as an Administrative Officer in the old Imo State civil service in December 1979. He subsequently served in various capacities in the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Lands and Survey, Ministry of Agriculture, and Imo State Government House.^[4]^[5]

When Abia State was created in 1991, Orji returned to Umuahia where he served in Government House, Umuahia, Bureau of Budget and Planning and Ministry of Agriculture. On March 1, 1996, Orji was seconded to the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON), now INEC, Abia State as Administrative Secretary and was later redeployed to Enugu State in 1997 where he supervised the elections that ushered in the democratic government in the state in 1999. Thereafter, he returned to Abia State as Principal Secretary, Government House, Umuahia and Chief of Staff to the Executive Governor.^[3]^[6]

Political career[]

In December 2006, Orji won the gubernatorial primaries of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA) to contest the 2007 governorship elections in Abia State. On April 14, 2007, he resoundingly defeated his closest rival by over 200,000 votes to emerge Governor of Abia State. He thus made history as being the first Governor in the History of Nigeria to win his election while in detention. He was sworn in on Tuesday, May 29, 2007, as the 3rd Executive Governor of Abia, Gods Own State.^[7]^[6]

He was reelected as Governor on April 26, 2011.^[2]

Theodore Ahamefule Orji on April 11, 2015, won the Abia Central Senate election to represent the people of Abia Central Senatorial District in the Nigerian Senate.

Theodore Ahamefule Orji having served his people for eight years after being elected twice as the Governor of Abia State handed over to Dr Okezie Ikpeazu as the 4th democratically elected Governor of Abia State on May 29, 2015, at Umuahia, the capital of Abia State.

Personal life[]

Chief T.A. Orji has been recognized and conferred with many traditional titles, including Ochendo Ibeku, Utuagbaigwe of Ngwaland, and Ohazurume of Abia South. He is married to Mercy Odochi Orji and they have five children.^[8]

Corruption allegations and EFCC investigation[]

In February 2020, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission announced an investigation into Orji and his sons, Chinedu and Ogbonna based on a petition the commission received in 2017. The petition, filed by the Fight Corruption: Save Nigeria Group, outlined over ₦500 billion in public funds that were allegedly stolen by Orji and his family. The money was supposedly ₦383 billion from federal accounts, ₦55 billion in excess crude revenue, ₦2.3 billion from SURE-P funds, ₦1.8 billion from ecological funds, a ₦10.5 billion First Bank loan, a ₦4 billion Diamond Bank loan, a ₦12 billion Paris Club refund, a ₦2 billion agricultural loan for farmers, and ₦55 billion in Abia State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission funds along with other government money including a ₦500 million monthly security fund. Later in February 2020, Orji was questioned by the EFCC in relation to the investigation; his son and Abia State House of Assembly Speaker Chinedu Orji was also interrogated as the investigation found that Chinedu had around 100 bank accounts that could have been used to hide the stolen money.^[9]^[10]

On August 19, 2021, Orji was arrested at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport after he failed to abide by his release conditions. As a part of his release from EFCC custody in 2020, Orji had to forfeit his passport; however, the commission later returned his passport so Orji could travel to Dubai for medical attention and Orji had refused to give the passport back. Later that day, Chinedu turned himself in and was taken into custody.^[11]^[12]^[13] Both were interrogated before being released on bail and told to return for future questioning.^[14]^[15]

References[]

^ Abia State Web site
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Sulaimon Olanrewaju and Olayinka Olukoya (28 April 2011). "GOV ELECTION: The winners are Ajimobi, Fashola, Amaechi, Amosun, Abdulfatah, Akpabio, Aliyu, Dakingari, Orji, Chime, Kwankwaso..." Nigerian Tribune. Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-28.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Abia State Governor – The Abia State Government – Official Website". www.abiastate.gov.ng. Retrieved 2017-12-22.
^ http://www.nggovernorsforum.org/governors-items/theodore-orji/#.VYWFXUY71ME
^ "CITATION: HIS EXCELLENCY SENATOR THEODORE AHAMEFULA ORJI OON, BEST SENATOR 2017". ABIA FACTS NEWS. 2017-12-28. Retrieved 2019-05-25.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Iriekpen, Davidson. "Nigeria: Orji - From Detention to Government House?". All Africa. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
^ http://www.thenationonlineng.net/archive2/tblnews_Detail.php?id=52222
^ Ndukwe, Jude (9 November 2018). "TA Orji: Celebrating Ochendo, Abia's Father of Equity at 68". Vanhuard. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
^ Nwezeh, Kingsley. "EFCC Investigates Theodore Orji, Son for Alleged Diversion of N551bn". ThisDay. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
^ Ogune, Matthew (9 February 2020). "Graft: Theodore Orji may toe same path as predecessor". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
^ Sanni, Kunle (19 August 2021). "EFCC arrests ex-governor at airport, detains him, son". Premium Times. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
^ Adepegba, Adelani (19 August 2021). "EFCC arrests ex-Abia gov Orji at Abuja airport". The Punch. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
^ Daniel, Soni (19 August 2021). "Breaking: EFCC arrests ex-Gov Theodore Orji". Vanguard. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
^ "EFCC Releases Former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji". Channels TV. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
^ Sanni, Kunle (19 August 2021). "EFCC releases detained ex-governor on bail". Premium Times. Retrieved 21 August 2021.

[1] Abia State Web site

[Tribune20110428-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b Sulaimon Olanrewaju and Olayinka Olukoya (28 April 2011). "GOV ELECTION: The winners are Ajimobi, Fashola, Amaechi, Amosun, Abdulfatah, Akpabio, Aliyu, Dakingari, Orji, Chime, Kwankwaso..." Nigerian Tribune. Archived from the original on 30 April 2011. Retrieved 2011-04-28.

[abiastate.gov.ng-3] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Abia State Governor – The Abia State Government – Official Website". www.abiastate.gov.ng. Retrieved 2017-12-22.

[4] ttp://www.nggovernorsforum.org/governors-items/theodore-orji/#.VYWFXUY71ME

[5] "CITATION: HIS EXCELLENCY SENATOR THEODORE AHAMEFULA ORJI OON, BEST SENATOR 2017". ABIA FACTS NEWS. 2017-12-28. Retrieved 2019-05-25.

[allafrica.com-6] Jump up to: ^a ^b Iriekpen, Davidson. "Nigeria: Orji - From Detention to Government House?". All Africa. Retrieved 28 January 2019.

[7] ttp://www.thenationonlineng.net/archive2/tblnews_Detail.php?id=52222

[8] Ndukwe, Jude (9 November 2018). "TA Orji: Celebrating Ochendo, Abia's Father of Equity at 68". Vanhuard. Retrieved 28 January 2019.

[9] Nwezeh, Kingsley. "EFCC Investigates Theodore Orji, Son for Alleged Diversion of N551bn". ThisDay. Retrieved 21 August 2021.

[10] Ogune, Matthew (9 February 2020). "Graft: Theodore Orji may toe same path as predecessor". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 August 2021.

[11] Sanni, Kunle (19 August 2021). "EFCC arrests ex-governor at airport, detains him, son". Premium Times. Retrieved 21 August 2021.

[12] Adepegba, Adelani (19 August 2021). "EFCC arrests ex-Abia gov Orji at Abuja airport". The Punch. Retrieved 21 August 2021.

[13] Daniel, Soni (19 August 2021). "Breaking: EFCC arrests ex-Gov Theodore Orji". Vanguard. Retrieved 21 August 2021.

[14] "EFCC Releases Former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji". Channels TV. Retrieved 21 August 2021.

[15] Sanni, Kunle (19 August 2021). "EFCC releases detained ex-governor on bail". Premium Times. Retrieved 21 August 2021.

[16] Abbo was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in November 2020.

[17] Oduah was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in August 2021.

[18] The PDP's Douye Diri was elected Senator in 2019 but resigned in February 2020 after winning election to become Bayelsa State Governor. Cleopas won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.

[19] The PDP's Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo was elected Senator in 2019 but resigned in February 2020 after winning election to become Bayelsa State Deputy Governor. Dickson won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.

[20] The PDP's Rose Okoji Oko was elected Senator in 2019 but died in March 2020. Jarigbe and fellow PDP member Stephen Odey fought in court over the ensuing by-election's PDP nomination; Odey won both inital court decisions and the by-election before taking office late in December 2020. However, Jarigbe later won several court challenges which declared him the legitimate PDP nominee and thus Senator. Jarigbe took office in September 2021.

[21] Nwaoboshi was elected as a member of the PDP but switched to the APC in June 2021.

[22] The APC's Adebayo Clement Adeyeye was elected Senator in 2019 but the NASS Election Petition Tribunal awarded and Court of Appeal affirmed the win to Olujimi. She took office in November 2019.

[23] Due to disputes over alleged irregularities, the APC's Benjamin Uwajumogu was not sworn in until July 2019. Uwajumogu died in December 2019 leading to a bye-election. After disputes, Ibezim was awarded the bye-election victory and took office in April 2021.

[24] Due to disputes over the alleged forced declaration of his election, Okorocha was not sworn in until June 14, 2019.

[25] The PDP's Dino Melaye was elected Senator in 2019 but Adeyemi petitioned against the results and the NASS Election Petition Tribunal annulled the results and called a new election. Adeyemi won the ensuing rerun election and took office in December 2019.

[26] The APC's Adebayo Osinowo was elected Senator in 2019 but died in June 2020. Abiru won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.

[27] The APC's David Umaru was elected Senator in 2019 but the Supreme Court awarded the APC primary win to Musa making him Senator. He took office in July 2019.

[28] The APC's Ignatius Datong Longjan was elected Senator in 2019 but died in February 2020. Daduut won the ensuing bye-election and took office in December 2020.

[29] The APC's was elected Senator in 2019 but a Court of Appeal awarded the win to Danbaba. He took office in November 2019.

[fnZamfara-30] Jump up to: ^a ^b ^c Prior to inauguration, the APC's Zamfara votes were voided due to improper holding of party primaries. Thus the PDP runners-up took office. All three (Anka, Gusau, Yaú) switched to the APC in June 2021.

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show Abia's current delegation to the Nigeria National Assembly
Senators	Theodore Orji (Abia Central-PDP) Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia North-APC) Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South-PDP)
Representatives	(Aba North/Aba South-PDP) Uko Nkole (Arochukwu/Ohafia-PDP) Benjamin Kalu (Bende-APC) (Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South-PDP) (Isiala Ngwa North/Isiala Ngwa South-PDP) Nkeiruka Onyejeocha (Isuikwato/Umunneochi-APC) (Obingwa/Osisioma/Ugbunagbo-PDP) (Ukwa East/Ukwa West-PDP)