Theodore Orji

Infobox Governor
name=Theodore Ahamefule Orji


imagesize= 170px
birth_date=1940
birth_place = Abia State, Nigeria
party=Progressive Peoples Alliance
order=8th Governor of Abia State
term_start=May 29, 2007
predecessor=Orji Uzor Kalu

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Theodore Ahamefule Orji is the current Governor of Abia State. He was elected on May 29, 2007 amid widespread allegations of electoral fraud. Prior to his election, Orji, a career civil servant, served as the Chief of Staff to former Abia Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu. On February 25, 2008, Theodore Orji's election was annulled on the grounds that he was ineligible for office. [http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL25378284.html] .

Politics

Indictment for financial fraud

Following his nomination as the gubernatorial candidate for the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), Theodore Orji was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for his supposed involvement in looting the Abia State treasury [http://www.vanguardngr.com/articles/2002/viewpoints/vp211062007.html] [http://www.independentngonline.com/?c=97&a=25128] . Though Orji's party claimed his arrest was politically motivated, the EFCC had substantial evidence to prove that Theodore Orji, along with three other senior Abia state officials in the Orji Kalu administration, facilitated the embezzlement of close to 40 billion Naira (320 million USD) on behalf of Orji Kalu [http://www.tellng.com/news/articles/070613-1/news/cover_govchains.html] .

Allegations of electoral fraud

Though its candidate remained incarcerated, the PPA was determined to get him elected on the April 14, 2007 gubernatorial elections. On April 12, two days before the election, governor Orji Kalu ordered his Finance Commissioner to release the sum of 250 million Naira from the Abia state treasury to Mrs. Mercy Orji, wife of Theodore Orji, to "offset some campaign expenses" [http://www.thetidenews.com/article.aspx?qrDate=06/14/2007&qrTitle=Group%20petitions%20EFCC%20over%20N250m%20released%20to%20campaign%20organisation&qrColumn=SOUTH%20EAST] . A day before the election, political thugs with ties to the PPA purportedly tried to assassinate Onyema Ugochukwu, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) candidate and frontrunner in the 2007 Abia state guber election. The assailants fired shots at his motorcade, fatally wounding one of his State Security Service (SSS) bodyguards, who suffered gunshot wounds through his head and hands [http://www.thetidenews.com/article.aspx?qrDate=04/16/2007&qrTitle=Abia%20PDP%20rejects%20polls%E2%80%99%20results%20...INEC%20cancels%20Imo%20guber%20election&qrColumn=FRONT%20PAGE] [http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=75781] [http://www.thetidenews.com/article.aspx?qrDate=04/20/2007&qrTitle=Emenike%20rejects%20Abia%20guber%20result&qrColumn=SOUTH%20EAST] . Theodore Orji was declared winner of the election on April 15 2007.He was subsequently released on bail to be sworn in as governor—and thus gained immunity from persecution; a move that was criticized by legal bigwigs such as Gani Fawehinmi [http://allafrica.com/stories/200706040075.html] .

Election Tribunal

On February 25, 2008, Theodore Orji's election was annulled on the grounds that he was ineligible for office. Pending the outcome of the appeals court, Onyema Ugochukwu of the PDP was declared the lawful winner of the 2007 Abia State gubernatorial election. [http://africa.reuters.com/wire/news/usnL25378284.html] .

Further reading

* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RODne_5SplU Okija shrine video on YouTube]
* [http://www.thetidenews.com/article.aspx?qrDate=06/14/2007&qrTitle=Group%20petitions%20EFCC%20over%20N250m%20released%20to%20campaign%20organisation&qrColumn=SOUTH%20EAST Group petitions EFCC over N250m released to campaign organisation]
* [http://allafrica.com/stories/200706040075.html Gani Faults Theodore Orji's Bail]
* [http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=79246 Theodore Orji Gets Bail, Sworn-in as Abia Gov]
* [http://www.independentngonline.com/?c=92&a=27267 Ribabu And Money Laundering Law]
* [http://www.tellng.com/news/articles/070613-1/news/cover_govchains.html A Governor in Chains]