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Abia leaders push for resumed trial of ex-Gov Kalu

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Alleged N7.6bn fraud: Court revokes Orji Kalu's bail

A coalition of leaders of Abia State have accused the Federal Government of playing double standard in the fight against corruption over the indefinite suspension of N7.6 billion fraud trial of ex-Abia governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.

The leaders, under the aegis of Coalition of Concerned Abia Stakeholders, also vowed to mobilize one million man street match against the the Federal High Court, Lagos.

According to the coalition, the indefinite suspension of the such celebrated case involving tax payers money was another case of double standard in the President Mohammadu Buhari led anti corruption war, adding that the planned match was to demand accelerated hearing in the alleged N7.6 billion fraud charges leveled against Mr Kalu by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

The Coordinator of the group, Chief Uche Ajunwa, in a statement he released to the media in Abuja, said the Abia leaders were shocked over the sudden decision of the court to adjourn the trial of the former governor indefinitely.

“The indefinite suspension of the N7.6 billion fraud case against the former governor has already set tongues wagging in the state.

“This development is a big slap on the sensibility of the people of the state for the All People’s Congress (APC) to have gone ahead to nominate a man that was reported to have allegedly committed such monumental crime against the state as the party flag bearer for Abia North Senatorial seat in 2019 election”, the statement added.

Read also: Buhari’s travel ban on 50 high-profile Nigerians illegal, repressive, says SERAP

It would be recalled that a federal High Court sitting in Lagos had on Thursday, adjourned indefinitely the trial of Chief Orji Uzor Kalu over alleged N7.6 billion fraud charges leveled against him by the EFCC.

The coalition however vowed to resist anybody, no matter how highly placed to sweep such matter under the carpet.

“Indefinite adjournment of such celebrated case was most unfortunate, because of the huge public interest it has generated both within and outside the state.

“One person alone cannot allegedly loot over N7.6 billion from state treasury and you expect the tax payers in the state to keep quiet.

“We are set for a one million man match in the state to demand for immediate reopening of the trial.

“We demand accelerated hearing of this case, because there should be no sacred cow in the current fight against corruption”, the statement reads in part.

The coalition further alleged that suspension of the trial was a grand design by some persons to allow the former governor contest the election for Abia north senatorial seat .

“We see it as a negotiated freedom to enable him run for the forthcoming election.

“All we want is justice and the indefinite suspension of his trial negate the spirit of anti corruption. And to make matter worse , some of his cohorts are beginning to see the former governor as the anointed one for the seat.

“The former governor is also parading himself as the leader of APC in the South East, and the few of us that joined the party had left on the account of this decision,” it added.

 

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