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N3.2 billion Fraud: Prosecutor’s lateness stalls Orji Kalu’s trial

Orji Uzor Kalu

The trial of former Governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, his former aide, Udeh Udeogu and his company, Slok Nigeria Limited, over an alleged N3.2 billion fraud, before a Federal High Court, Lagos suffered a setback following the late arrival of the prosecuting counsel.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) last month re-arraigned Kalu, his former commissioner, Udeh Udeogu, and his company, Slok Nigeria Limited, on an amended 34-count charge, before the court.

They all pleaded not guilty.

At the resumed hearing today, lawyers to Kalu and his former aide and Company, Mr. Awa Kalu and Solomon Akumah, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), told the court of their readiness to go on with the trial but expressed dismay at the absence of the EFCC Lawyer, Mr. Adeniyi Adebisi, who they said failed to inform either the court or the defence of his absence.

They contended that since the institution of the case about nine years ago, their clients have been ever ready to face trial.

They urged the court to strike out the case against their clients for lack of diligent prosecution.

However, the presiding judge, Mohammed Idris, while citing sections 351(1) and 351(2) of Administration of the Criminal Justice (ACJA), which empowered the court to strike out a case if no reasonable excuse is put before the court for the prosecutor’s absence, stated that the court will use its discretion to give the prosecution a last adjournment.

It was in the process of adjourning the matter that the EFCC’s counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, entered the court and apologized for coming late, saying that he was caught up in traffic.

Upon the agreement of both parties, the matter was adjourned till March 6 to 10, and April 10 to 13, 2017, for trial.

According to the charge, Dr. orji Uzor Kalu and other accused persons were alleged to have allegedly diverted about N3.2 billions from Abia State Government’s treasury between 2001 and 2005.

They were also alleged to have used the following banks to perpetrate the alleged fraud, Manny Bank, now Fidelity Bank Plc, Spring Bank Plc, the defunct Standard Trust Bank and Fin Land Bank, now First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

Akin Kuponiyi

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