Former Abia State Governor Theodore Orji has vehemently denied fraud allegations linking him to Effdee Nigeria Limited, describing recent reports as “malicious falsehoods” designed to tarnish his reputation.
In a strongly-worded statement issued through his liaison office, the former governor highlighted factual inaccuracies in the publication, including the erroneous claim that he governed Abia beyond his 2015 tenure expiration.
Orji specifically denied any association with Uchenna Erondu and Austin Akuma, the individuals named in the alleged scandal, stressing they never held positions in his administration. The former governor has demanded immediate retractions from all media platforms that carried the story, threatening legal action if the outlets fail to comply. Legal analysts suggest the case could test Nigeria’s libel laws regarding public figures and media accountability.
This development comes amid heightened scrutiny of past administrations in Abia State, though Orji maintains his eight-year governorship was transparent and accountable. Media ethics advocates are calling for thorough verification of corruption allegations against public officials to avoid trial by media. The affected publications have yet to respond to the retraction demand as of press time.
