Court adjourns Orji Kalu’s trial till Sept. 27

An Abuja Federal High Court on Thursday adjourned former Gov. Orji Kalu’s alleged money laundering trial till Sept. 27.

The judge, Justice Anwuli Chikere, adjourned the case pending an appeal filed by the defendants at the Supreme Court.

Kalu is standing trial alongside, his company, Slok Nigeria Limited and Jones Udeogo, a former Commissioner for Finance in Abia for alleged money laundering.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned them on a 32-count amended charge of diverting state’s fund as the chief executive officer of the state between 1999 and 2007.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr. Oluwaleke Atolagbe, said the offences contravened Section 17 (C) of the Money Laundering Act.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Mr. Solomon Akuma(SAN), counsel to the third defendant, informed the court of a pending appeal in the Supreme Court.

He, therefore, urged the court to adjourn the proceedings to await the outcome of the appeal.

Although the prosecution opposed the application for adjournment, the court, however, granted the third’s defendant’s application.

The judge, consequently fixed Sept. 27 for the defence to report on the status of the appeal and continuation of trial.

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