The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has vowed to immediately begin a fresh trial of former Abia state governor, Orji Uzor Kalu.
EFCC described the congenial decision of the Supreme court nullifying the former governor ‘s conviction as unfortunate and a technical ambush against his trial.
Kalu and his co-defendant, Udeogo were on December 5th 2019 found guilty and sentenced to 12 and 10 years imprisonment respectively for allegedly diverting N7.6 billion belonging to the Abia state government during Kalu’s administration.
Reacting to the nullification of the order by the Supreme court, EFCC in a statement said the corruption charges against Kalu subsist and it will begin fresh trial of the former governor and Udeogo.
The attention of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to the judgment 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 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 judgment and returned to the lower court to deliver the judgment which it considered as illegal.
The EFCC has however considered the judgment of the apex court as quite 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 entire prosecutorial machinery of the EFCC would be launched in a fresh trial where justice is bound to be served in due course.”
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