Possibly in reaction to a fiery speech that he made there, the British colonial authorities sentenced him to seven years in jail for allegedly misappropriating the funds of the ACAE.

But later Roy Wilkins, chairman of ACAE in the US, wrote a letter to Nnamdi Azikiwe ("Zik") exonerating Dr Nwafor Orizu of any financial impropriety.

[7] In September 1953, he was convicted by a Nigerian magistrate on seven counts of fraud and theft of funds intended for student scholarships at American universities.

[7][9] Orizu ran successfully for election as an independent candidate to represent Onitsha Division, and became the chief whip in the Eastern House of Assembly.

[10] A coup was launched on 16 January 1966 by a group of disaffected young military officers led by Major Chukwuma Kaduna Nzeogwu.

The army quickly suppressed the revolt but assumed power when it was evident that key politicians had been eliminated, including Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Premier of Northern Region Sir Ahmadu Bello and Premier of the Western Region, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola.

On 17 January, Major General Ironsi established the Supreme Military Council in Lagos and effectively suspended the constitution.