Former Governor of Abia State and Senator representing Abia Central, Chief Theodore Orji, has refuted reports linking him to fraudulent dealings involving a firm, Effdee Nigeria Limited, describing the claims as false and malicious.
In a statement issued by his liaison office and made available to journalists, Senator Orji said the publication, which alleged his involvement in financial impropriety, was a calculated attempt to malign his image and mislead the public.
He noted that the authors of the report failed to verify their claims, stating that one of the obvious inaccuracies was the suggestion that he held office as Governor in 2016 and 2017, whereas his tenure ended in May 2015.
The lawmaker also denied any association with Mr. Uchenna Erondu and Mr. Austin Akuma, insisting that neither of the individuals had any official role or connection with his administration during his time as Governor.
On the mention of Effdee Nigeria Limited, Senator Orji categorically stated that he had no knowledge of the company and has never had any dealings with it.
“The publication is not only riddled with falsehoods but was clearly designed to tarnish the image of a man who has served his state and country with integrity,” the statement read in part.
He called on the publishers of the report to immediately retract the story in all platforms where it appeared, including national dailies and online media outlets, and tender an unreserved apology.
Senator Orji reaffirmed his commitment to upholding the values of public service and warned against further attempts to drag his name into baseless controversies.
By Lawal Afsat
