Supreme Court Orders Kalu, Associate to Face Money Laundering Charges

The Supreme Court has dismissed the appeal filed by former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, seeking to quash charges of corruption filed against him.In a unanimous judgment, the apex court said the appeal lacked merit.

Kalu had, in his appeal, sought to quash the charge of money laundering brought against by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

A similar appeal by Kalu’s associate, Udeh Jones Udehogo was also dismissed by the Supreme Court on similar ground.

Justice Suleiman Galadima, who wrote the lead judgments in both appeals, upheld the concurrent decisions of the Federal High Court, Abuja and Appeal Court, Abuja in refusing the appeals.

The five-man panel of the apex court, in its unanimous judgments, directed the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to assign both cases to new judges for hearing.

The apex court directed Kalu and his associate to submit themselves for trial.

In relation to the appeal by Kalu, Justice Galadima, whose judgment was read by Justice Sylvester Ngwuta, said: “The appellant had approached the Federal High Court, Abuja to quash the charges made against him by the EFCC.

“The Court dismissed the case. We went to the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division. He lost and approached this court.

“Having considered all issues raised and arguments by parties, I come to the conclusion that I cannot, but help in dismissing this appeal for lacking in merit. It is dismissed.

“I affirm the decision of the court bellow, which rightly affirmed the decision of the Federal High Court, that it was not bound by the ex-parte order of the Abia State High Court as to vitiate the charges preferred against the appellant.”