The EFCC on Monday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, filed a 32-count
amended charge against the former governor of Abia, Orji Kalu, on alleged
money laundering.
The anti-graft body had in 2007 initially preferred 96 counts including
money laundering against the ex-governor, his company, Slok Nigeria
Limited, and Jones Udeogo.
Kalu and his co-defendants were accused of diverting the state’s fund
while being governor of the state between 1999 and 2007.
The defendants’ re-arraignments were stalled following a pending appeal
involving the 3rd defendant, Slok Nigeria Limited, at the Supreme Court.
Chief Solomon Akuma (SAN), Counsel to the third accused, drew the court’s
attention to the subsisting appeal at the apex court.
He therefore urged the court to adjourn the proceedings to allow parties
sort out the appeal.
On his part, the Prosecuting Counsel, Mr Oluwaleke Atolagbe, opposed the
application. He said Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice
Act (ACJA) 2015, prohibited stay of proceedings in a criminal matter at
the trial court on account of a pending appeal.
Atolagbe argued further that the appeal in question was similar to the two
previous appeals involving the Kalu and Udoego, which the Supreme Court
had decided on March 18.
According to him, the apex court dismissed the accused persons’ objections
to the charge preferred against them.
Ruling, Justice Chikere Anwuli went ahead to grant the application and
subsequently adjourned the suit to June 30.
NAN recalls that EFCC on Feb. 11, 2008, also amended the charge and
presented the 112 counts against the case that has been further amended.
Count one of the charge alleged that Kalu between Aug. 13, 2003, and Oct.
9, 2003, whilst being the Executive Governor of Abia State procured Slok
Nigeria Limited.
The count one also alleged that the ex-governor caused teh company to
retain in its account domiciled with the then First Inland Bank Plc, Apapa
branch, Lagos, the sum of N200,000,000.
According to the charge, the alleged looted money formed part of the funds
illegally derived from the treasury of Abia State Government through
Standard Trust Bank (now United Bank for Africa Plc).
The charge therefore held that Kalu thereby committed an offence contrary
to Section 17 (C) of the Money Laundering.