Absence of Counsel stalls trial of Orji Kalu in N7.6 billion money laundering case

The absence of the counsel to the Senator representing Abia North, Orji Kalu, on Monday stalled the trial of the former Abia State governor before the Lagos division of the Federal High Court in a N7.6 billion money laundering case.

Awa kalu, counsel to Mr Kalu, through the counsel to the third defendant, A. T Ufor, informed the Lagos division of the Federal High Court hearing the fraud case.

He informed the court that the Counsel had taken ill yesterday and could not make it to the court for continuation of defense.

“This morning, I was informed that the counsel to the first defendant Awa Kalu (SAN) took ill yesterday and we called the prosecution to inform him of the predicament. He (Mr Kalu) asked us to pray your lordship for an adjournment till tomorrow to enable him recover,” Mr Ufor informed the court.

The prosecuting counsel, Adeniyi Adebisi, informed the court he had no objection to the prayer made by Mr Ufor. The counsel to the second defendant, Emmanuel Utegbu, also informed the court he had no objections to the prayer.

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The case was subsequently adjourned to the next day for continuation of defense by the trial judge.

Mr kalu, alongside his former commissioner of finance, Ude Udeogo, and a company, Slok Nigeria Limited, are facing an amended 39 counts charge of money laundering to the tune of N7.6billion.

The case, which has been on for over 13 years, witnessed further delay after the trial judge, Mohammed Idris was elevated to the court of appeal.

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