Theodore Orji

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His Excellency
Theodore Orji
CON
Senator for Abia Central
In office
9 June 2015 – 11 June 2023
Preceded byNkechi Justina Nwaogu
Succeeded byDarlington Nwokocha
8th Governor of Abia State
In office
29 May 2007 – 29 May 2015
Deputy
Preceded byOrji Uzor Kalu
Succeeded byOkezie Ikpeazu
Personal details
Born
Theodore Ahamefule Orji

(1950-11-11) 11 November 1950 (age 73)[1]
Umuahia, Southern Region, British Nigeria (now in Abia State, Nigeria)
Political partyPeoples Democratic Party (before 2006; 2010–present)
Other political
affiliations		Progressive Peoples Alliance (2006–2010)
SpouseMercy Odochi Orji
Children5
OccupationPolitician

Theodore Ahamefule Orji CON (born 11 November 1950)[2] is a Nigerian politician who served as the senator representing Abia Central senatorial district from 2015 to 2023. He previously served as the governor of Abia State from 2007 to 2015.[3] He was formerly a career civil servant, and served as the chief of staff to Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu.[4]

Early life and career[edit]

Orji before becoming the governor of Abia State was formerly a career civil servant where he served at the Abia State Government House as a Principal Secretary. He was later appointed Chief of Staff to the then Abia State Governor, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu.[5]

He served as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, where he Chaired the Senate Committee on Privatization and was the Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Agriculture.[6][7]

Public service[edit]

After completing the National Youth Service Corps Scheme, he began working as an Administrative Officer in the old Imo State Civil Service Commission in 1979. When Abia State was created in 1991, Orji returned to Umuahia, where he served in several administrative positions, including the Government House, Umuahia, Bureau of Budget and Planning and Ministry of Agriculture.[8]

In March 1996, he was seconded to the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON), now INEC, Abia State, as the Administrative Secretary.[9] He was later reassigned to Enugu State in 1997 to supervise the elections that ushered in the current democratic dispensation in Nigeria. After the polls, Orji returned to Abia State, where he subsequently served in various capacities in the Cabinet Office, Ministry of Lands and Survey, Ministry of Agriculture, and Abia State Government House.[10]

Political career[edit]

In December 2006, Senator 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 was elected Governor of Abia State, as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC. He was sworn in on May 29, 2007 as the third Executive Governor of Abia State.[11][12] In 2011, he re-contested and won a second term.[3]

In 2021, Senator Orji announced his retirement from active politics after completing his second tenure as Senator, representing Abia Central Senatorial District.[13]

Tenure[edit]

Legacy projects[edit]

While in office, Orji constructed and completed the 10,000 International Conference Center in Umuahia.[14] In 2015, Orji commissioned several Federal High Court complexes in Abia State.[15] He is also responsible for the Reconstruction of the Abia State House of Assembly as well as the construction of 28 constituency offices at the complex for members of parliaments. In 2012 The Nation, described the construction of the Ministry of Justice in Abia State as a "legacy ".[16]

  • High Court Aba
  • Old High Court & Old Magistrates Court
  • Construction of ASEPA Complex[17]
  • Worker’s Secretariat & Dialysis Centre[18]

Corruption allegations and EFCC investigation[edit]

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.[19][20]

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.[21][22][23] Both were interrogated before being released on bail and told to return for future questioning.[24][25]

As of August 2022, Orji remained under investigation by the EFCC.[26]

Personal life[edit]

Chief T.A. Orji has been recognised and conferred 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.[27]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Theodore Orji, Sports Enthusiast and Advocate, Celebrates 72nd Birthday". NIGERIA SPORTS NEWS. 9 November 2022. Retrieved 17 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Theodore Orji: Growing up as the Only Child of My Mother Remains an Indelible Experience - THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  3. ^ 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 28 April 2011.
  4. ^ Emeruwa, Chijindu (9 March 2021). "Abia bye election: Orji Kalu's brother, Mascot emerges APC candidate". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 11 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Abia State Governor – The Abia State Government – Official Website". www.abiastate.gov.ng. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  6. ^ "Chief Theodore Orji | Nigeria Governors' Forum". Archived from the original on 20 June 2015.
  7. ^ "CITATION: HIS EXCELLENCY SENATOR THEODORE AHAMEFULA ORJI OON, BEST SENATOR 2017". ABIA FACTS NEWS. 28 December 2017. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  8. ^ Babah, Chinedu (7 March 2017). "ORJI, Chief Theodore Ahamefule". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation.
  9. ^ BusinessDay (17 November 2021). "Ochendo at 71: Trajectory of a humble background". Businessday NG. Retrieved 4 October 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ "Former Abia Governor,T. A. ORJI's N4 billion Umuahia mansion raises dust". Encomium. 9 August 2015. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  11. ^ "Abia: one year after". The Nation. 1 June 2008. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  12. ^ Iriekpen, Davidson. "Nigeria: Orji - From Detention to Government House?". All Africa. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  13. ^ "I will quit politics in 2023 —Ex-Abia governor, Senator Theodore Orji". Tribune Online. 8 January 2022. Retrieved 4 October 2022.
  14. ^ TheMail (13 June 2023). "Theodore Orji's Remarkable Achievement: The Completion of the ICC Umuahia Construction Project - The Mail Newspaper". Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  15. ^ Staff, Daily Post (5 May 2015). "Gov Orji commissions Umuahia, Aba High Court Complexes". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  16. ^ "'Orji is building enduring legacy for Abia judiciary'". The Nation (Nigeria).
  17. ^ Staff, Daily Post (6 September 2013). "Governor Orji donates bus to ASEPA, visits first facility user of Abia State Dialysis Centre". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  18. ^ "The Abia Dialysis Centre: Outstanding Legacy of T.A. Orji". Pointblank News. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 13 June 2023.
  19. ^ Nwezeh, Kingsley. "EFCC Investigates Theodore Orji, Son for Alleged Diversion of N551bn". ThisDay. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  20. ^ Ogune, Matthew (9 February 2020). "Graft: Theodore Orji may toe same path as predecessor". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  21. ^ Sanni, Kunle (19 August 2021). "EFCC arrests ex-governor at airport, detains him, son". Premium Times. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  22. ^ Adepegba, Adelani (19 August 2021). "EFCC arrests ex-Abia gov Orji at Abuja airport". The Punch. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  23. ^ Daniel, Soni (19 August 2021). "Breaking: EFCC arrests ex-Gov Theodore Orji". Vanguard. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  24. ^ "EFCC Releases Former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji". Channels TV. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  25. ^ Sanni, Kunle (19 August 2021). "EFCC releases detained ex-governor on bail". Premium Times. Retrieved 21 August 2021.
  26. ^ Sanni, Kunle (20 August 2022). "SPECIAL REPORT: 11 forgotten cases of alleged corruption by former Nigerian state governors". Premium Times.
  27. ^ Ndukwe, Jude (9 November 2018). "TA Orji: Celebrating Ochendo, Abia's Father of Equity at 68". Vanhuard. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
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