July 31, 2018
Justice Muhammed Idris of the Federal high courtroom sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday, July 31, 2018, dismissed a no-case submission filed by way by the former governor of Abia state Orji Kalu, in his bid to forestall his trial over an alleged N3.2 billion fraud.
Mr Kalu is presently a chieftain of Nigeria’s ruling party, APC, and is one of the key supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari in the South-east.
Mr Kalu alongside his former Commissioner for Finance and Account, Jones Udeogu, and a enterprise, Slok Nigeria confined, are being prosecuted by way of the economic and monetary Crimes fee, EFCC, on an amended 39-count number rate bordering on money laundering to the song of N3.2 billion.
The EFCC, through its suggest, Rotimi Jacobs, had, on Friday, 11th of May , closed its case in opposition to the defendants, after the conclusion of evidence given with the aid of a prosecution witness, Chidi Chukwuka , Deputy Director, Nigeria Deposit coverage enterprise, NDIC.
Throughout the may eleven, 2018 lawsuits, the prosecution counsel had additionally moved an oral software to amend the rate in opposition to the defendants in view of the proof given to date.
However, the defence led via Awa Kalu, had, on may also 28 filed a no-case submission on behalf in their clients, which they in the end adopted as their written cope with.
In his brief ruling at the no case-submission nowadays, Justice Idris held that the prosecution had set up a prima facie case against the defendants primarily based at the evidence towards the defendants.
The also stated that there has been a link between Mr Kalu and the two others.
Following the ruling, one of the defence suggest, Goddy Uche, knowledgeable the court docket that the lead recommend to the defendants, Awa Kalu, had written to inform the court that Mr Kalu has an appointment to undergo a surgical treatment overseas.
He, consequently, prayed the courtroom to adjourn the problem to September 10 to enable the primary defendant, Mr Kalu, to open his defence.
In his response, the prosecution counsel, Mr Jacobs, advised the courtroom to adjourn further proceedings to the first week of September, announcing that “The President of the courtroom of attraction has directed that the problem ought to be concluded before the end of September 2018.”
Therefore, Justice Idris adjourned the case to September 10, 2018 for the defendants to open their defence .
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