11yrs later, EFCC re-arraigns ex-Gov Kalu, increases charges against him

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has increased the amount of funds allegedly stolen by former Abia State governor, Orji Uzo Kalu, from N2.9 billion to N7.65 billion and on Tuesday re-arraigned him before the Federal High Court in Lagos.

The anti-graft agency re-arraigned him alongside his company, Slok Nigeria Limited, and Ude Udeogu, who served as the Director of Finance and Account, Abia State Government House, under Kalu.

EFCC had 11 years ago levelled a 34 count-charge against Kalu over alleged diversion, stealing and laundering of N2.9 billion

But on Tuesday, the commission re-arraigned the former governor on amended increased charges, from 34 to 39, and an increased amount of N7.65 billion from the initial N2.9 billion.

According to the prosecuting counsel for the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), the amendment became essential in view of new facts revealed by some of the19 witnesses who had testified against Kalu and his co-defendants in court.

The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, paved the way for the re-arraignment of the defendants, having sacked the objection raised by the defence counsel to the amended charge sheet.

One of the counts read that Kalu “did procure Slok Nigeria Limited — a company solely owned by you and members of your family — to retain in its account, domiciled with the then Inland Bank Plc, Apapa branch, Lagos, an aggregate sum of N7,197,871,208.7 on your behalf.”

The EFCC claimed that the N7.1 billion “formed part of the funds illegally derived from the treasury of the Abia State Government and which was converted into several bank drafts before they were paid into the said company’s account.”

According to Jacobs, the ex-governor violated Section 17(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004, and was liable to be punished under Section 16 of the same Act.

Aside the N7.1 billion, Kalu and his co-defendants were also alleged to have received a total of N460 million allegedly stolen from the Abia State Government treasury between July and December 2002.

This is said to be a breach of Section 427 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.

READ ALSO: N6BN FRAUD: EFCC fails to present witnesses against ex-Gov Jang

Kalu, Udeogu and Slok Nigeria Limited, meanwhile pleaded not guilty when the charges were read them. They were allowed to continue with the bail granted them 11 years ago when they were first arraigned.

Defence counsels Messrs Gordy Uche, Solo Akuma, and K.C. Nwofor, who are all Senior Advocates of Nigeria, reminded the court of the no-case submissions they had filed on behalf of their clients since May when the prosecution closed its case after calling a total of 19 witnesses to prove the charges.

Also notifying the court that they had each been served with a 126-page written address by the prosecutor in response to the no-case submissions, the defence counsels pleaded with the court for a short adjournment to enable them to file a reply to the 126-page document and return to court to adopt same.

The prayer was granted by Justice Idris, who then adjourned the matter till July 25, 2018 for further proceedings.

 

RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears

Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now