Senators Who Have Pending Law Suits (PART 2)

In the first part of this article, updates on criminal cases against three Senators of the 9th Assembly were given. This part is a compilation of updates on criminal allegations against three more serving Senators.

READ ALSO Senators Of The 9th Assembly Who Have Pending Law Suits

Senator Theodore Orji

Orji served as governor of Abia State, South/east of Nigeria from 2007 to 2015. He is currently a Senator representing the people of Abia Central Senatorial District under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), following an investigation on the senator revealed how Theodore Orji withdrew N500 million from the state’s account for eight years. 

The commission said the former governor started the monthly withdrawal when he was Chief of Staff to former governor of the state, Orji Uzor Kalu.

Among the allegations levelled against the former governor was that he diverted billions of naira disbursed to Abia State by the Central Bank of Nigeria for Small and Medium Enterprise.

He was also alleged to have diverted money from the Ecological Fund account, which should have been used in tackling erosion and other disasters peculiar to the state.

The lawmaker allegedly diverted money from the Abia State Oil Producing Development Area Commission.

According to reports, the investigation was also extended to members of his family which linked his son, Chinendum Orji, the current Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, to the allegation. 

No charges have been filed against Orji till date since according to reports, the EFCC is yet to conclude on investigations. There have been various calls from organizations, demanding the resumption of the suit. Recently, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) called for the resignation of the Senator and his son.

Senator Stella Oduah

Stella Oduah is a former Minister of Aviation and now represents Anambra North Senatorial District in the 9th Assembly, under the People's Democratic Party (PDP).

The lawmakers as Aviation Minister was surrounded by controversies including allegation of certificate forgery. In addition, she was indicted for corruption in 2014 by the House of Representatives after investigations revealed that she approved the purchase of two armoured BMW cars for a sum of N255 million, with no appropriation for the purchase. 

Reports revealed that while the controversy over the illegal purchase of armoured vehicles was still pending, another scandal broke out over her claim to have a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Investigation revealed that the Senator allegedly obtained the MBA from a school that does not run masters’ programs giving an indication of forgery of certificate. On the PhD claim, it was found that the ‘awarding’ institution does not exist.

President Goodluck Jonatha relieved her of the ministerial job and she went back to Anambra and contested and won the Anambra North Senatorial seat.

Recently, she stated in response to the N255million bulletproof car scandal that saw to her exit office in 2014, that she had “made a mark in oil and gas and agricultural businesses before joining politics.”

According to a PREMIUM TIMES report, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has indicted Senator Oduah, and the Nigerian subsidiary of Chinese construction giant, CCECC, in an alleged fraudulent cash transactions of about N5billion, over five months in 2014.

The anti-graft agency (EFCC) could not however arraign the defendants (Senator Oduah and CCECC) on the 25 charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja, on February 9, 2021, because the defendants are yet to be served the relevant court documents.

The proceedings was therefore adjourned till February 22.

Senator Abdullahi Adamu

Senator Adamu is a former Governor of Nasarawa State. He is currently representing Nasrawa West Senatorial District, under the ruling All Progressives Party (APC).

According to reports, he was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on February 23, 2010. It was alleged that he fraudulently awarded contracts and that he stole public funds estimated at N15 billion. He was arraigned by the EFCC on March 3, 2010, alongside 18 others, on 149 counts of fraud amounting to N15 billion.

Despite this allegation against him, he has been senator since 2011. In an interview in February 2011, he dismissed the EFCC case, saying it was based on "mere allegations", and would not affect his candidacy. Reports revealed that his case is on interlocutory appeal with a trial yet to commence.

 

To be continued...