The Abuja Federal High Court has fixed July 2, 2021, for the adoption of all the processes, in respect of the suit filed by former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, challenging his retrial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on alleged money laundering charges.
Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the date after counsels in the suit told the court that they have all filed and exchanged their processes.
In the said suit, Senator Kalu’s counsel, Professor Awa Kalu (SAN), asked the court for an order of the court prohibiting the EFCC from retrying him on the same alleged money laundering charges.
He contended that haven been tried, convicted and sentenced on same charges in 2017, by the court under Justice Mohammed Idris, it would amount to double jeopardy if he is subjected to a fresh trial on same charge.
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He also noted that following his conviction and sentence, he was incarcerated at the Kuje Correctional Centre where he served part of his term having first spent a few days in the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
He, therefore, insisted that his trial haven been pronounced a nullity by the Supreme Court in ITS judgment of May 8, 2020, and without more cannot entitle the EFCC to institute the same charge against him.
The EFCC in a response to the suit, asked the court to dismiss it on the ground that the planned re-trial would not amount to a case of double jeopardy.
Justice Ekwo had earlier granted leave to Orji Uzor Kalu to seek an order prohibiting the Federal Republic of Nigeria, through the EFCC, her officers, servants, others, agents, privies, and any other person or bodies deriving authority from the Federal Republic of Nigeria, from retrying the former governor.
(Editor: Abaje Usekwe)
