Politics
Alleged N3.2bn Fraud: Prosecution’s Absence Stalls Trial Of Orji Uzor Kalu
The absence of the prosecution on Tuesday stalled the trial of a former Governor of Abia, Orji Uzor Kalu, who is charged with N3.2 billion fraud at a Federal High Court in Lagos.
Kalu is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside his former Commissioner for Finance, Ude Udeogo, on 34 counts bordering on fraud.
Also charged with the accused is Kalu’s company — Slok Nigeria Ltd. The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges.
On Tuesday, the trial of the accused could not proceed as scheduled following the absence of counsel to the EFCC, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN).
Jacobs had written a letter to the court informing it of his absence and the court consequently, granted a short adjournment to Oct. 6, 7, and 8 for continuation of trial.
At the last adjournment on June 7, the prosecution had called on its fifth witness to give evidence before the court.
In her evidence, the witness, Mrs Toyosi Ekorhi, a Compliance Officer at the First City Monument Bank (FCMB), told the court that the bank had forwarded the account status of Slok Nigeria Ltd to the EFCC.
She said it was in response to an enquiry by the commission about two months ago.
The witness also told the court that she joined FCMB on Oct. 13, 2008, adding that the documents were retrieved from the archives of the defunct Inland Bank Plc.
She, however, said she had no knowledge of its contents because she never worked at Inland Bank.
According to the witness, the company’s statements of account sent to the EFCC covered transactions carried out between Aug. 27, 2008 and Nov. 12, 2012.
She again claimed ignorance of the transactions which she said were done in Finbank Plc.
Meanwhile, during cross-examination, defence counsel, Chief Gordy Uche (SAN) had enquired from the witness if the first accused was listed as a director of the company.
In response, the witness said the name of the first accused (Kalu) was not listed as one of the Directors of Slok Nig. Ltd.
She had added that the second accused (Udeogu) was also not a signatory to the company’s account.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the EFCC had on Oct. 31, 2016 slammed the charges on Kalu and Udeogo.
In the charge, the accused were alleged to have committed the offences between August 2001 and October 2005.
Kalu was alleged to have utilised his company to retain in the account of a First Inland bank, (now FCMB), the sum of N200 million.
The sum is alleged to have formed part of funds illegally derived from the coffers of the Abia State Government while Kalu was governor.
In one of the counts, his company (Slok Nigeria Ltd) and one Emeka Abone, still at large, were also alleged to have retained in the company’s account the sum of N200 million on behalf of the first accused (Kalu).
In counts one to 10, the accused were alleged to have retained about N2.5 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 N3.2 billion from the Abia State Government’s treasury during Kalu’s tenure as governor.
The offence contravened the provisions of Sections 15(6), 16, and 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2005 and Money Laundering Act of 1995 as amended (2002) and Section 477 of the Criminal Code , Laws of the Federation, 1990.
Innocent Chukwudi Asogwa
October 4, 2017 at 7:07 am
He case is over, he is now APC
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October 4, 2017 at 5:30 am
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Samson Kanayo
October 4, 2017 at 4:44 am
Loot under pdp join apc and be cent
Chidex Hillson
October 4, 2017 at 4:43 am
This animal called OUK is now a saint having join APCshit. Behold his sins are forgiven courtesy of Bubu’s ideology
Oku Uzu Daibibe Nelson
October 4, 2017 at 4:06 am
Uzore where is Nnamdi Kalu, after fraud you will face Nnamdi Kalu disappear idiot
Ejike Okol
October 4, 2017 at 3:22 am
Do not drink sweet wine Fermented one is coming
Paschal Nwankwo
October 4, 2017 at 2:35 am
Hahahah Nigeria has fallen apart nothing remains again
Charles Chizzy
October 4, 2017 at 2:34 am
Plz Emma powerful, expose orji uzo kalu with this…… Ppl should no more bout this….. Now i no why he is doing all these
Christopher AbiJehovah
October 4, 2017 at 12:57 am
SCRATCH MY BACK, I LL ?
Mmiri Nke Udo
October 4, 2017 at 12:34 am
This is the only reason he has supported the unjust killings of our peaceful people by useless and terrorist buhari
Samuel Anene
October 3, 2017 at 11:34 pm
Hahahaha no wonder he was jumping up and down to destroy the image of the Chosen one. NAIJA na NAIJA
Engell Nazik Obinna
October 3, 2017 at 11:03 pm
Planned deal
Rodriguez Pence
October 3, 2017 at 10:59 pm
That criminal, the enemy of his own people, you will never go free
Franklin Onuoha
October 3, 2017 at 10:32 pm
Compensation on his lies and attack on armless IPOB but he will paid in his own coin one day
Prince TheSpectacular
October 3, 2017 at 9:12 pm
It is working. His services for the foolani govt to betray his people is paving way for his case to be swept away
Chizoba Ubaezu
October 3, 2017 at 9:08 pm
He have taken the plea bargain of joining forces against IPOB,
Michael King
October 3, 2017 at 9:06 pm
No wonder this idiot is hiding himself with biafra matters. Thief go and answer your query. Idiot you can open your mouth to insult while you are a hard earned criminal
Enobong Udoh
October 3, 2017 at 8:58 pm
He is now a saint because he has join apc
Livinus Amaike
October 3, 2017 at 8:58 pm
Jail de idiot
Asikogu Samuel
October 3, 2017 at 8:55 pm
Arrangee
Enyinnaya Okechukwu Elvis
October 3, 2017 at 8:52 pm
That is the result of trying to do rubish against Ipob …mad man
Eziekem Damian
October 3, 2017 at 8:40 pm
sinking kalu, aboki slave. you will see they can not be trusted
Foster Iregbu
October 3, 2017 at 8:33 pm
This just the begining
Amanfu Ukeje
October 3, 2017 at 8:29 pm
He wants govt to stop this case tha is why he has been speaking recklessly against ipob to get buhari’s favor
Cleo Mekdaus
October 3, 2017 at 8:23 pm
He is Buhari’s praise singer
Kingsley Istanbul Vam
October 3, 2017 at 8:21 pm
Uzor fool
Edward Alonge
October 3, 2017 at 8:13 pm
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Fatima Ibrahim
October 3, 2017 at 7:47 pm
Hehehehehehe!
Wonders Shall never end
Ogu Egege Samson E
October 3, 2017 at 7:32 pm
You will soon end up in jail, that is where you belong. Still enjoying temporary freedom
Wilson Tochukwu Kingsley
October 3, 2017 at 7:20 pm
OUK should be hanged, he is a FOOL
Mack Chanchin'g
October 3, 2017 at 7:12 pm
send this useless old fool to Jail
Okafor Vin Paul
October 3, 2017 at 6:57 pm
CONFIRMED THIEF.
Okechukwu Alo
October 3, 2017 at 6:57 pm
Yes prosecutor will not come because they want to give the stupid and fool man time to whether he can blackmail IPOB .one thing I promise him is that he will go to jail this time
Ifeanyi Ogbonnia
October 3, 2017 at 6:56 pm
His contract against his kinsmen is working that is why the prosecutor will not be present
Ndubuisi Morris
October 3, 2017 at 6:52 pm
You will not see those Self Righteous Yoruba’s on this now…. This government is the worst ever witness in Nigeria but the likes of those self righteous Yoruba’s will not say it out, because they are cowards. instead they prefer to carry Biafra issues on the head like hawkers… They will continue to receive insults and curses for Ridiculing the Struggle of Biafra, if truly they mean well for Igbo’s, why interfering into Biafra struggle, if you love Nigeria so much, why not go with north and leave Igbo’s alone, why preach a force unity when we know in our heart we are not one.
Chimaobi All
October 3, 2017 at 7:55 pm
Forget about Yoruba people. They are back stabbers.
Cliff Osita Udeala
October 3, 2017 at 6:51 pm
STAGE-MANAGED!. THAT IS THE REWARD FOR SHOUTING ANTI-IGBOS, ANTI-IPOD AND ANTI-NNAMDI KANU SLOGANS, ON ONE HAND, AND SINGING PRO BUHARI, APC, HAUSAFULANI SLOGANS AND GOING TO NON-INVESTIGATIVE MEDIA TO DECLARE FALSELY THAT NNAMDI KANU ESCAPED TO LONDON AS AGAINST BEING IN CUSTODY OF THE ARMY. THE WORLD IS SEEING HOW BUHARI IS FIGHTING CORRUPTION.
John Nwaeze
October 3, 2017 at 6:51 pm
That is why he is licking the Boot of Buhari, but he will soon know the stuff that is being made of Buhari.
Tony Okoli
October 3, 2017 at 6:50 pm
He has been blackmailing ipob and KANU to seek for a waiver from government.
Stan Uche Yah Akujinwa
October 3, 2017 at 6:48 pm
Don’t .mind the thief.
Okemini Ndi-Ehugbo
October 3, 2017 at 6:48 pm
The prosecutor will not come because buffoon orji uzor kalu is keeping his own side of the bargain, which is to lie and tarnish the image of his people.
Golden Frank Iyke
October 3, 2017 at 6:47 pm
Oleeee
Kenn Iyke Ogbuke
October 3, 2017 at 6:46 pm
APC at it
Ikelle Onuohar
October 3, 2017 at 6:44 pm
He is now sainted bcos he has joined APC.
Okokon Offuo
October 3, 2017 at 6:44 pm
Easth criminal
Darlington Ihekoronye
October 3, 2017 at 6:43 pm
no wonder he has been trying lately to impress the government.
Chiedozie Ositadinma
October 3, 2017 at 6:42 pm
Hehehehehe! APC
Emmanuel Decency
October 3, 2017 at 6:38 pm
Because he has been speaking against Biafra, the corrupt federal government of Nigeria (zoo) wants to prolong his case so as to allow him to make fool of himself by speaking against Biafra. But least do they know that Orji Uzor Kalu has no voice in Biafra land.
Godswill Uche
October 3, 2017 at 6:37 pm
He has joined APC, and his sins are forgiven. Just watch as this case I’ll die off.
Useless man.
Felix Okechukwu
October 3, 2017 at 6:37 pm
The rhetorics is beginning to pay off…. Up APC
Chikezie Nwabunwanne
October 3, 2017 at 6:37 pm
How can they be present, this government that she’d corrupt leader’s, they are working for him as he also worked for them against Nnamdi KANU,is a pity
Don Obi
October 3, 2017 at 6:36 pm
So this idiot want to free himself from his corruption charge by talking trash against Kanu
Ekene Udensi
October 3, 2017 at 6:35 pm
Ppl like de idiot should be sent to jail….
Uzoewulu Okey
October 3, 2017 at 6:34 pm
He is looking for nnamdi kanu,dont worry
Chinasa Philomena
October 3, 2017 at 6:34 pm
Wry not continue ur ranting about kanu?
Paul Ezuo
October 3, 2017 at 6:32 pm
What else do you expect. The case will die a natural death because he has been defending their govt policies lately.
Sheddyb Okoro
October 3, 2017 at 6:32 pm
Orji uzo kalu is a criminal and a 4199 expert
Livinus Agim
October 3, 2017 at 6:31 pm
But he is a born again member, or his salvation price is not fully paid.
Okeychukwu Ezike
October 3, 2017 at 6:31 pm
Criminal evil man
Engr Prince Uche Mbaramah
October 3, 2017 at 6:30 pm
Thief ouk
Slight White
October 3, 2017 at 6:29 pm
this thief