A former Governor of Abia, Orji Uzor Kalu, was on Tuesday re-arraigned at a Federal High Court in Lagos on an amended 39-count bordering on fraud.

Kalu, who is now a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The anti-graft agency is prosecuting Kalu together with his former Commissioner for Finance, Ude Udeogo, and a company, Slok Nigeria Ltd., said to be owned by Kalu.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the EFCC had on Oct. 31, 2016, preferred 34 count charges, including a N3.2 billion fraud charge.



Kalu and Udeogo had however, pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail.

The EFCC closed the prosecution in May 2018, after calling a total of 18 witnesses and tendering a plethora of evidences before the court.

When the case came up on July 16, the EFCC Prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed court of a “second further amended charge”, urging the court to order the accused to take their pleas.

But Kalu’s defence team, comprising Mr Awa Kalu (SAN), Chief Solo Akuma (SAN) and Mr K. C. Nwofo (SAN), had all opposed the amended charge on grounds that it was not done in accordance with the provisions of the law.

They urged the court to refuse the amended charge.

In a short ruling on Tuesday, Justice Mohammed Idris (who has now been elevated to the court of appeal), while interpreting the provisions of Sections 216 and 217 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, held that the prosecution could amend the charge.

According to the court, an alteration of a charge can be allowed at any time, while the court accordingly, calls upon the accused to plead to the new charge and proceed with trial.



The court held that it cannot shut out the prosecution from filing a second amended charge as the defence had not showed that the amendment would be prejudicial to it.

After the court’s ruling, the accused were then re-arraigned on the new charges, and they again, each pleaded not guilty, while the court allowed them to continue with the earlier bails granted.

The defence team then informed the court of their various “no case submissions” filed on behalf of the accused, adding that they had served same on the prosecution, which in turn, filed a written address in reply.

The defence argued that the prosecution’s address was over 100 pages and so, they would require time to study same and make a response.

Idris then adjourned the case until July 25 to hear addresses on the “no case’’ submissions.

In the charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offence between August, 2001 and September, 2006.

Kalu was alleged to have used his company, Slok Nigeria Ltd., to retain N200 million in an account in First Inland Bank, now First City Monument Bank.

The sum is alleged to have formed part of funds illegally derived from the treasury of the Abia State Government,

In one of the counts, Kalu, his company (Slok Nig Ltd), one Emeka Abone and Michael Akpan, who are said to be at large, were also alleged to have between 2001 and September 2006, collaborated to commit an offence.

They were alleged to have concealed the genuine origin of an aggregate sum of N7.2 billion, which formed part of funds illegally derived from the Abia State Treasury, and converted same into several bank drafts, which were subsequently, paid into the account of Slok Nigeria Ltd.

In counts one to 10, the accused were alleged to have retained about N2.7 billion in different accounts, which funds were said to belong to the Abia State Government.

Cumulatively, in all the counts, the accused were alleged to have diverted over N7.1 billion from the Abia State Government’s treasury, during Kalu’s tenure as governor.

The offences contravene the provisions of Sections 14, 15(6), 16, 17 and 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2005.

They also contravene the provisions of the Money Laundering Act of 1995 as amended by the amendment Act No. 9 of 2002 and Section 477 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 1990.


http://thenationonlineng.net/efcc-re-arraigns-orji-kalu-raises-charges-to-39-counts/

I thought those that crossed to APC were immuned to prosecution for corruption..

Seriously I will say this without apology

It’s a decoy to arrest opposition party

I mean it know Nigeria politician that isn’t corrupt

It’s like corrupt people probing corrupt people

Nigeria Politicians are criminals

CilicMarin:
I thought those that crossed to APC were immuned to prosecution for corruption..

Game of the mind

Fayose is the main target

EFCC numu die,they will keep on amending charges till they lose the case. to me, this is intentional so as to prolong the life spam of the case. kalu will be free at last cos of his role in ensuring that bubu return come 2019

Where is EFCC chairman

EFCC should be scrapped, they are just errand boys of the presidency, in a sane country, this case should have been done and dusted. 99.999999% of Nigerian Polithiefians are fantastically currupt! The remaining 0.000001% are just moderately currupt

his kuje bed is ready


Meanwhile some idiots said Joining APC makes you saintly


Awon odeyo

ok

sarrki:


Game of the mind

Fayose is the main target

exactly, since they've been quiet of late, they need to warm up their engine at least in the eyes of the people before going for Fayose.

Orji Uzor Kalu should Understand that this is his name being rubbished in this war game

sarrki:
Seriously I will say this without apology

It’s a decoy to arrest opposition party

I mean it know Nigeria politician that isn’t corrupt

It’s like corrupt people probing corrupt people

Nigeria Politicians are criminals

We all know their games

See What Regina Daniels Boyfriend Somadina Did To Her After Dumping Her For New Girlfriend




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCQ7EN8TeB0

Wailers I hope he has not decamped?

Smoke screen

Distractions! We all know how it will end. We ain't fools!!

I see sarrik and cilicmarin (omenka) forming as if they are concerned. I know they are playing to script! Tell lai (your overall boss) and all ur fellow bmc crew that we not fooled!!

Fuckìng Apc!

Out of 1000 corrupt people only 10 will be prosecuted and we think corruption is been fought.

Anyway, there is a lucrative online business that is up for sale, interested buyers should WhatsApp 07013560508

sarrki:
Seriously I will say this without apology

It’s a decoy to arrest opposition party

I mean it know Nigeria politician that isn’t corrupt

It’s like corrupt people probing corrupt people

Nigeria Politicians are criminals

E be like say dem dey owe you salary. When your 30k alert enter now your tone go change

sarrki:


Game of the mind

Fayose is the main target

sarrki? Is that you for real?

Who're they deceiving? Anyway the cleansing blood of APC might not clean a corrupt Igbo politician.

After all it's a tribal government. I won't be surprised.

Film tricks.

This is not witch hunt ooh... Eehhee!!

CilicMarin:
I thought those that crossed to APC were immuned to prosecution for corruption..

They are just playing to the gallery.

CilicMarin:
I thought those that crossed to APC were immuned to prosecution for corruption..

All of these na film trick...

Would be interesting if he's convicted. Would buy Buhari serious credibility.

Kalu,your village people are determined to undo you.

Lol.

[color=#990000][/Fellow Igbos, how do we explain this Is he not in APC Wo... me am tired of hate jare... I want serenity... Buhari should rule till 2023... I cannot allow hate to kill me

silenze:


exactly, since they've been quiet of late, they need to warm up their engine at least in the eyes of the people before going for Fayose.

Orji Uzor Kalu should Understand that this is his name being rubbished in this war game

D idiot has sold his soul to the devil already, what is a mere name? Moreover he will be acquitted of all charges. No be naija again?

sarrki:


Game of the mind

Fayose is the main target

Bro, I agree with you.