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Former Abia State Governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu has filed a no-case
submission in his trial for alleged money laundering.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) re-arraigned him along
with a former Director of Finance in Abia State Government House, Mr Udeh
Udeogu, and Slok Nigeria Limited, on 34 counts of laundering N3.2billion.
EFCC closed its case on May 11, after which Justice Mohammed Idris of the
Federal High Court, Lagos, adjourned for the defendants to open theirs.
Prosecuting counsel Adebisi Adeniyi, who stood in for Rotimi Jacobs (SAN),
said EFCC filed the amended charge on Tuesday morning.
He said he was also served with no-case submissions filed by each of the
defendants.
He said: “We did inform Your Lordship that we intended to file an amended
charge. We have filed the amended charge this morning.
“We were also served with the defendants’ motion for no case submissions.”
Kalu’s lawyer, Chief Awa Kalu (SAN), confirmed that he filed a no-case
submission on his client’s behalf.
“A motion for no-case submission was filed on behalf of the first
defendant (Dr. Kalu) on May 28 and it has been served on the prosecution,”
he said.
Other defence counsel, Chief Solo Akuma (SAN) and K. C. Nwofo (SAN), said
they also filed separate motions for no-case submission for their clients.
The defence counsel, however, said they were yet to be served with the
amended charge.
Justice Idris directed that the amended charge be served on the defendants
in court, which was done.
Akuma argued that the prosecution ought to have filed an application for
leave to amend the charge to enable the defence respond.
“We ask for an adjournment to enable us look at the charge to decide on
the next step.,” he said. “It accords with procedure and fair hearing for
me to study it, having just been served.”
Other defence counsel aligned themselves with Akuma’s submission.
Justice Idris adjourned until June 13 for possible re-arraignment and
hearing of the no-case submission.