Orji Uzor Kalu
Pending the ruling of the Supreme Court in a case instituted by the former Abia State governor, Mr. Orji Uzor Kalu, challenging his prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ((EFCC) for money laundering and corruption when he was governor, the federal government would have to wait to resume the trial of former governor.
However, the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) has written to the Federal High Court, Abuja for a fresh hearing date in the case stalled since 2007 by the series of appeals filed by Kalu.
Following the letter from the office of the AGF, the court scheduled the case for mention yesterday.
Kalu, in the appeal, is challenging the competence of the charge of money laundering brought against him by the EFCC.
He was arraigned on July 27, 2007 before the Federal High Court, Abuja on a 107-count charge for money laundering, official corruption and criminal diversion of public funds in excess of N5 billion.
After taking his plea, Kalu approached the Court of Appeal to set aside the ruling of the Federal High Court that he had a case to answer.
However, the appellate court dismissed the appeal for lack of merit and gave the anti-graft agency the nod to prosecute him, a decision he later appealed at the Supreme Court.
Yesterday, the prosecution was represented by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), while the defence had not representation.
Jacobs told the court that proceedings could not resume at the moment because parties were awaiting the judgment of the Supreme Court in the appeal by Kalu.
He said: “By the 18th of next month, the Supreme Court will give its judgment in the appeal by the defendant. We have been waiting since 2007, we can still wait for just one month.”
Jacobs requested a date after March 18 for the parties to report the Supreme Court judgment.
Justice Anwuli Chikere agreed with Jacobs on the need to await the decision of the Supreme Court, and adjourned to April 11.
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