Court Restrains FG from Retrying Orji Kalu over Alleged N7.1bn Fraud

By Alex Enumah

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja on Wednesday restrained the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from retrying a former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, in the alleged N7.1 billion charge.

Justice Ekwo in a judgment held since there is no extant judgment ordering the re-trial of Kalu and same was not made by the Supreme Court, the Federal High Court cannot order his retrial.

He however ordered the retrial of the second respondent, Mr Ude udeogu, who was the Director of Finance and Account under Kalu.

The Supreme Court had, in a judgment last year, nullified the conviction of Kalu on the grounds that the judge of the Federal High Court, Lagos, was wrong to have passed judgment on the defendant having been elevated to the Court of Appeal.

Following the judgment of the Supreme Court, the former Abia governor had approached the Federal High Court to set aside his conviction and was consequently released from prison.

Details later…