The Federal Government on Monday urged the Court of Appeal in Abuja to order fresh trial of former Abia Governor and serving Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu for alleged N7.1 billion money laundering corruption charges.
The Federal Government wants the appellate court to set aside the September 29, 2021 judgement of the Federal High Court which prohibited it from retrying the former Abia State Governor. The Federal Government also wants the appellate court to order Kalu and Slok to submit themselves for retrial in line with the order of the Supreme Court in its May 8, 2020 judgement voiding the earlier trial and conviction of Kalu and two others, and ordering a retrial.
Counsel for EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs filed two notices of appeal against the two judgements delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja on September 29.
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Justice Ekwo had, in the judgements on applications for judicial review filed by Kalu and Slok, upheld among others, thier argument that a retrial would subject them to double jeopardy having earlier been tried, convicted and sentenced on the same case.
Kalu was charged and tried with Slok and Udeogu for their alleged complicity in diverting the N7.1 billion from Abia State’s coffers.
They were convicted and, while Kalu and Udeogu were imprisoned for 12 and 10 years, Slok was wound up.
But, upon an appeal by Udeogu, the Supreme Court set aside their trial and conviction in a judgement on May 8, 2020 on the grounds that the trial judge, having been elevated, ought not to have continued to hear the case.
