Orji Kalu Loses Bid to Stop N7.2bn Corruption Trial

Davidson Iriekpen

The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday dismissed the no-case application filed by a former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu.

Kalu is standing trial since he left office in 2007 for allegedly misappropriating N7.6billion belonging to the state.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had filed a 39-count charge against the former governor and his company, Slok Nigeria Limited and Ude Udeogu, who served under him as the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Abia State Government House.

Recently, the former governor filed a response to the charges pressed against him by the anti-graft agency.

But in his ruling, Justice Mohammed Idris, said Kalu had some explanations to make particularly on certain documents tendered by the EFCC as exhibits in the evidence against him.

The same fate befell the similar no-case submissions filed by his co-defendants.

The EFCC first arraigned Kalu in 2007. But after the former governor challenged the charges at the Court of Appeal and later at the Supreme Court and lost, the apex court asked the High Court to continue the trial.

On October 31, 2016, the accused were re-arraigned before Justice Idris.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges, following which the EFCC opened its case, calling 19 witnesses and tendering a load of exhibits.

At the conclusion of the prosecution’s case however, the defendants filed no-case submission, arguing that the EFCC failed to link them to any crime.

They urged Justice Idris to dismiss the charges and set them free.

The judge, however, disagreed with them in yesterday’s ruling, holding that they have explanations to make as to the fraud allegations pressed against them.

The judge held: “The prosecution called 19 witnesses and tendered a number of exhibits which have been thoroughly examined. Going through the evidence of these witnesses, it appears to me that if taken as unchallenged and uncontroverted, some link might be established between the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants and some of the alleged offences in the light of Exhibits B1-B18; in the light of Exhibit D34; in the light of Exhibits D51-D68; in the light of Exhibits A58-F93; in the light of Exhibit H; in the light of Exhibit J2; in the light of Exhibit L; in the light of Exhibits N1-N15; in the of Exhibits P33-P34; in the light of Exhibits Q1-Q30; in the light of Exhibits T, H and U.

“I will stop there and I will say no more.… I am of the view that the defendants have some explanations to make in the light of the exhibits and the evidence so far led. Again, I will say no more. The no-case submission is dismissed.”

The judge called on the defendants to open their defence, reminding the parties that he had September ending deadline to finish the case.

Kalu’s lawyer, Mr. Gordy Uche (SAN), however, pleaded with the judge for a six-week adjournment to enable Kalu to go for a surgical operation.

“The first defendant has a medical appointment for surgery and the lead counsel in this matter had actually written a letter he wants us to bring to the attention of Your Lordship with respect to the surgery,” Uche said.

He pleaded with the judge to adjourn the case till September 10, 2018.

But the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), pleaded that the case be heard in the first week of September, bearing in mind that the judge had to conclude the case by the end of September.

Uche, however, said it was not realistic, explaining that the six-week adjournment was to avoid a situation where the case would come up and Kalu would not be available.

In a short ruling, Justice Idris said he was constrained to grant Uche’s request, and adjourned the case till September 10 for the defendants to open their defence.