N28 Billion Fraud Scandal: Court Orders EFCC Seizure of Abia Lawmaker Uchenna Erondu’s N1.2bn Properties Over Diversion of Public Funds
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the interim forfeiture of properties valued at over ₦1.2 billion allegedly linked to Hon. Uchenna Erondu Jnr, a current member of the Abia State House of Assembly and a former aide to ex-Governor Okezie Ikpeazu. The court order comes amid mounting allegations of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, and the diversion of public funds to the tune of ₦28 billion.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the ruling on Thursday, April 24, after hearing an ex-parte motion brought before the court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), represented by legal counsel C.O. Onu. The EFCC sought an order empowering the agency to seize the assets pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation and possible prosecution.
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In a brief but firm ruling, Justice Nwite declared the application meritorious, ordering the temporary seizure of three high-value properties:
- A four-bedroom bungalow located at Plot 6/31, Ukaegbu Layout, Umuahia North Local Government Area, valued at ₦409 million.
- A three-bedroom bungalow at the same address in Ukaegbu Layout, valued at ₦300 million.
- A five-bedroom luxury bungalow located in the highbrow Guzape District of Abuja, estimated at ₦500 million.
The total worth of the three properties stands at an estimated ₦1.209 billion.
Justice Nwite directed that the interim forfeiture order be published in the Daily Trust Newspaper and on the EFCC website, inviting any interested party to come forward within 14 days to show cause why the assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.
The case was adjourned to May 26 for the report of compliance and any potential objections.
In a supporting affidavit deposed to by Samson Oloje, an officer of the EFCC, the Commission stated that the seizure was based on intelligence indicating large-scale financial misappropriation during the tenure of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, under whom Erondu served as a powerful political aide.
According to Oloje, the EFCC launched the investigation after receiving credible intelligence alleging that Erondu was involved in the diversion of state funds, money laundering, and criminal conspiracy. The EFCC said the intelligence included detailed tracking of financial transactions, as well as open-source data linking the lawmaker to the properties in question.
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Oloje further told the court that the properties were believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities and stressed the need for immediate preservation of the assets to prevent their dissipation or transfer while the probe continues.
“It would be in the interest of justice for the application to be granted,” Oloje stated, “in order to preserve the res pending the conclusion of investigations, and for whosoever concerned to show cause why the aforementioned assets should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government.”
He also submitted copies of statements by persons involved in the financial transactions, marked as Exhibit EFCC-1, which he claimed substantiate the agency’s case against Erondu.
Hon. Uchenna Erondu Jnr, who currently represents Obingwa West Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, has not publicly responded to the court ruling as of press time. However, the political atmosphere in Umuahia and Obingwa is tense, with opposition figures and civil society groups calling for Erondu’s immediate suspension from the House of Assembly.
The development also casts a long shadow over the legacy of former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, under whose administration Uchenna Erondu rose to political prominence. Critics have long alleged widespread financial mismanagement and weak accountability structures under Ikpeazu’s leadership. The latest court order is likely to reignite those criticisms.
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Speaking under anonymity, a top EFCC official said the ongoing probe could lead to additional arrests, particularly if investigators uncover evidence that other government officials or contractors were complicit in the alleged ₦28 billion fraud scheme.
The EFCC’s action has drawn mixed reactions from the public. While some Nigerians welcomed the court’s decision as a step toward tackling corruption, others have expressed concerns over the slow pace of prosecution in similar high-profile cases.
Mr. Nnamdi Kalu, an activist with the Abia Youth Integrity Network, praised the EFCC for “finally acting on long-standing intelligence reports,” but called for expedited prosecution and transparency.
“This cannot be another drama where suspects walk free after media trials,” Kalu said. “The EFCC must go beyond property seizures and ensure that if public funds were truly stolen, those responsible are jailed and the money is returned to the people.”
Meanwhile, Chief Emeka Ogbonna, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, dismissed the court action as politically motivated, alleging that the EFCC is being used to target opponents of the current administration.
“This is a witch-hunt, pure and simple,” Ogbonna argued. “Why now? Why only Erondu when there are others with even more questionable records?”
The next major milestone in the case is the May 26 hearing, when the EFCC is expected to file a report of compliance. At that time, interested parties—including Erondu or any third party claiming ownership of the properties—can challenge the interim forfeiture order.
Legal analysts suggest that the case could set an important precedent for anti-corruption efforts, especially in cases where property is acquired under suspicious circumstances without direct bank trails.
According to Barrister Chinedu Ugo, a legal practitioner based in Abuja:
“The EFCC appears to be using a mix of intelligence gathering and asset tracing to build its case. If successful, it will demonstrate that high-level political actors can no longer hide behind technicalities or proxies to retain looted wealth.”
Before his election to the Abia House of Assembly in 2023, Uchenna Erondu served as one of the most influential aides to former Governor Ikpeazu, particularly in the area of revenue mobilization and liaison between government and local councils. He was often referred to as the “engine room” of the governor’s grassroots political structure in Abia South.
However, critics have long questioned the source of his wealth, especially given his rapid acquisition of luxury properties and political influence in the last decade.
The court-ordered seizure of Uchenna Erondu Jnr’s assets is the latest in a string of high-profile anti-corruption efforts by the EFCC. But whether this move leads to a successful prosecution or becomes another symbolic gesture in Nigeria’s long battle against public sector graft remains to be seen.
With ₦28 billion allegedly siphoned from Abia’s coffers and ₦1.2 billion in assets already in the net, many Nigerians will be watching closely as the legal proceedings unfold—and as the 14-day deadline for contesting the forfeiture draws near.
