Abia politician, Erondu Uchenna Erondu, temporarily forfeits properties to FG
Erondu Uchenna Erondu, a member of the Abia State House of Assembly is in trouble.
This is as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has obtained a court order for the interim forfeiture of his assets valued at N1.2 billion.
The seizure is part of an ongoing investigation into the alleged diversion of N28 billion in public funds by state officials around 2010.
Justice Emeka Nwite of the Federal High Court granted the order on Thursday following a motion ex-parte brought by EFCC counsel, Barrister Charles Oni.
The EFCC requested interim possession of the properties pending the conclusion of investigations and potential prosecution. The allegations against the suspect include criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of public funds, impersonation, illegal transfer of funds, and money laundering.
Oni stated that findings from open-source intelligence had helped uncover the alleged financial irregularities, which are currently under investigation.
According to the EFCC, Erondu Uchenna Erondu is under probe for his alleged involvement in a N28 billion fraud scheme.
The assets identified include a 4-bedroom bungalow valued at N400 million, a 3-bedroom bungalow worth N300 million, and a 5-bedroom bungalow estimated at N500 million.
The properties are located in Umuahia North Local Government Area, Abia State, and in Guzape, Abuja.
The EFCC asked the court to order “the publication of a notice in the Daily Trust Newspaper and on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission website, inviting any person who may have an interest in the said properties to show cause, within 14 days from the date of publication, why the properties should not be permanently forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”
During the hearing, Oni adopted his application and urged the court to approve the interim seizure, citing Section 34 of the EFCC Act, which empowers the Commission to trace and freeze assets suspected to be proceeds of crime.
We submit that the Applicant (EFCC), in the exercise of its statutory power to investigate all reported cases, whether through intelligence reports or direct petitions, has been empowered under Section 34 of the EFCC Act to trace and seize all assets believed to be proceeds of crime. These constitute offences under the Act and warrant an interim order of forfeiture from the court,” Oni said.
He added that the action would send a strong signal that the judiciary supports efforts to recover public funds, and assured that the investigation into the properties would be concluded within 30 days.
The suspect once served as a personal assistant to the Abia State Government between 2007 and 2010 and is allegedly linked to suspicious withdrawals from the state’s account during that period.
After hearing the arguments, Justice Nwite ruled in favor of the EFCC, describing the application as “meritorious.” The court granted the interim forfeiture and adjourned the matter to May 26, 2025, for a report on compliance.
