Few hours after the Supreme Court quashed the conviction of former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, the prosecution agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC has said it will immediately commence his re-trial.
In a statement by the Commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale, the EFCC says its attention has been drawn to the judgement of the Supreme Court nullifying the trial of a former Governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and Jones Udeogu, a former Director of Finance and Account of the Abia State Government and ordering their fresh trial at the lower court.
The apex court based its verdict on the grounds that Justice Mohammed Idris, who convicted Kalu and others had been elevated to the Court of Appeal before the judgement and returned to the lower court to deliver the judgement which it considered as illegal.
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The EFCC says it considers the judgement of the apex court as unfortunate. “It is a technical ambush against the trial of the former Governor. The Commission is prepared for a fresh and immediate trial of the case because its evidences against Kalu and others are overwhelming. The corruption charges against Kalu still subsist because the Supreme Court did not acquit him of them”.
The Commission added that the entire prosecutorial machinery of the EFCC would be launched in a fresh trial where justice is bound to be served in due course.
(Editor: Terverr Tyav)
