Politics
Ex-Gov Kalu’s travails persist as efforts to suspend N7.6bn fraud trial fail
The travails of former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, on Thursday persisted as a move to have his ongoing trial of alleged N7.6 billion fraud suspended failed.
A Federal High Court in Lagos dismissed applications seeking stay of proceedings in the trial of the former governor, filed by his firm Slok Nigeria Limited; and Ude Udeogu, who are co-defendants in the criminal case against Kalu.
The judge had earlier adjourned the matter till Thursday for the defendants to open their defence, but instead, they prayed the court when the matter came up as slated to stay further proceedings pending the outcome of some appeals that they filed.
Counsel to Kalu’s firm, Slok Nigeria Limited, Mr. K. C. Nwofor (SAN), told the judge that he had filed an appeal to challenge the dismissal of his client’s no-case submission and the jurisdiction of Justice Mohammed Idris to continue hearing the case after he (the judge) had been elevated to the Court of Appeal.
READ ALSO: With the dust of #Adeosungate yet to settle, another Buhari minister enmeshed in NYSC scandal
Recall that Kalu’s lawyer, Professor Awa Kalu (SAN), had upon Justice Idris’ elevation to the Court of Appeal, applied under Section 396(7) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act to the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, for Justice Idris to be given fiat to conclude the case despite being elevated.
Justice Bulkachuwa had granted the prayer and gave Justice Idris fiat to return to the Federal High Court to conclude the case, with a condition that the case must finish by the end of September when Justice Idris would be expected to resume fully at his new duty post.
RipplesNigeria… without borders, without fears
Click here to join the Ripples Nigeria WhatsApp group for latest updates.
Join the conversation
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.
INVESTIGATION: In Kwara, multimillion-naira milk processing plant is abandoned, converted to a chicken outlet
After the government spent millions of naira to establish a milk processing plant in Kwara State that would provided jobs...
SPECIAL REPORT: For Sokoto communities, promise of healthcare is akin to death sentence
In this story, ABDULRASHEED HAMMAD delves into the dire realities of Primary Health Care services in Sokoto State, shedding light...
ICYMI…SPECIAL REPORT: NNPCL hides behind PIA to frustrate disclosure, accountability
Nigeria’s major oil company, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), in what appears to be a common practice of disregard...
INVESTIGATION: Multi-million naira Ekiti resort center remains uncompleted a decade after
The multimillion-naira project, expected to comprise recreational buildings, now consists of cassava farmland, a bush used for excretion, and a...
SPECIAL REPORT: Torturous experiences of students with disabilities in Oyo tertiary institutions
For students with disabilities in Oyo state-owned tertiary institutions, learning is a torturous and distressing experience, considering the building structures...