Former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu has filed an application at the Federal High Court Abuja, seeking an order of court to strike out his name and that of his company, Slok Nigeria Ltd from the N7.1billion charge leveled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Kalu’s lawyer, Ikoro Ikoro said the application was predicated on the judgement of Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, delivered on September 29, 2021, which bared the Federal Government from retrying the former governor.
Kalu also filed an application through his lawyer for the EFCC to unfreeze his bank account.
However, the scheduled rearraignment of the former Commissioner of Finance in Abia state,
Jones Udeogu, whom the court had ordered his retrial as well as hearing of all pending applications could not go on.
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Slok Nigeria Limited’s counsel, Chris Uche SAN and Kalu’s lawyer had informed the court that the EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacob SAN, served his response to their application which they served on him since October 2021, on Monday January 10, 2022. Which he said needed time to reply.
The trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo therefore adjourned to March 10, for hearing of Kalu and Slok’s applications as well as EFCC’s motion on notice seeking transfer of the matter to Lagos.
Justice Ekwo had on September 29, 2021, stopped the Federal Government from retrying Orji Uzor Kalu, over alleged N7.1 billion fraud.
Kalu was charged alongside his firm, Slok and Udeogu, and while the duo were convicted and sentenced for 12 years, the company was wound up.
It was the opinion of the court that since Kalu was not mentioned in the judgment of the Supreme Court, which had nullified his conviction and sentencing and ordered a retrial, the judgment did not apply to him.
(Editor: Hadiza.A.A)
