Justice Muhammed Idris of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, dismissed a no-case submission filed by a former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, in his bid to stop his trial over an alleged N3.2bn fraud.
Kalu alongside his former Commissioner for Finance and Account, Jones Udeogu, and a company, Slok Nigeria Limited, are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on an amended 39-count charge bordering on money laundering to the tune of N3.2bn.
The EFCC, through its counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, had, on Friday, May 11, 2018, closed its case against the defendants, after the conclusion of evidence given by a prosecution witness, Chidi Chukwuka , Deputy Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation, NDIC.
During the May 11, 2018 proceedings, the prosecution counsel had also moved an oral application to amend the charge against the defendants in view of the evidence given so far. However, the defence led by Awa Kalu, SAN, had, on May 28, 2018, filed a no-case submission on behalf of their clients, which they subsequently adopted as their written address.
In his short ruling on the no case-submission today, Justice Idris held that the prosecution had established a prima facie case against the defendants based on the evidence against the defendants. The Judge also held that there was a link between Kalu and the two others.
“You have explanations to make,” the Judge said. Following the ruling, one of the defence counsel, Goddy Uche, SAN, informed the court that the lead counsel to the defendants, Awa Kalu, SAN, had written to notify the court that Kalu has an appointment to undergo a surgery abroad.
He, therefore, prayed the court to adjourn the matter to September 10, 2018 to enable the first defendant, Kalu, to open his defence.
The former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, says he has no plans to defect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
His media aide, Kunle Oyewumi, on Tuesday described the reports on some online platforms about planned defection as mischievous, falsehood and the handiwork of political jobbers and speculators.
Kalu said the APC of which he is not only a member, but a strong activist, “remains the only political party to salvage Nigeria from the atrocities of the previous administrations.’’ The former Abia governor, while emphasising that he can never rejoin the PDP, called on those spreading fake news to look for other means of survival as against cheap political blackmail and character assassination.
He maintained that in view of the achievements of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, the APC is waxing stronger in the South-East and other parts of the country. The former governor said he remained not only a prominent member of the APC, but a committed supporter of Mr Buhari, with no apologies to anyone.
“My attention has been drawn to a news report in some online media that I am set to dump the APC for the PDP. The malicious report is not only laughable but mischievous. This is another attempt by enemies of progress to cause disaffection and confusion in the APC.I remain a solid and committed member of the APC. Those behind the falsehood should seek attention from legitimate pursuits. I am not bothered and will not lose sleep over the activities of political jobbers.It is no longer news that I will be vying for a seat in the Senate (Abia North) under the APC in 2019. I will rather quit politics than to return to the PDP because the APC is the only political party that will take Nigeria to enviable heights,’’ he stressed.
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