Politics
EFCC Floors Orji Kalu As Court Trashes No-Case Submission
A judge in Lagos today told a former Governor of Abia state, Orji Uzor Kalu that he has a lot of explanation to make over corruption allegations leveled against him.
Justice Muhammed Idris of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Tuesday dismissed a no-case submission filed by a former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, in his bid to stop his trial over an alleged N3.2bn fraud.
Kalu, who is now a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress, 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 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 proceedings, the prosecution counsel 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.
In his response, the prosecution counsel, Jacobs urged the court to adjourn further proceedings to the first week of September, saying that “The President of the Court of Appeal has directed that the matter must be concluded before the end of September 2018.”
Consequently, Justice Idris adjourned the case to September 10, 2018 for the defendants to open their defence.
-NAN
Follow us on social media:
”Competition has started again” – Reactions trail Regina Daniels and co-wife, Laila’s posts about their husband, Ned Nwoko
“Only self!sh men are intimidated by women’s success, you should be happy that your woman is successful” – Actress Diva Gold to men
“She forms hard to get, but I slept with her the first day I came to her office” – IVD makes bombshell revelation on his relationship with Blessing CEO (Video)
“There’s hunger, however there’s huge” hope – Tinubu Lament
“Simon Ekpa is not our member” – IPOB stated
Diddy claims prosecutors showed judge edited Cassie video to make him look dangerous
“They don’t look so happy” – Reactions trail video of Chioma and Hailey at Davido’s concert
“God is still in the business of doing wonders, please keep trusting God” – Emotional moment gospel singer Yinka Alaseyori serenades actress Dayo Amusa who gave birth to her first child at 41 years (Video)
-
News1 day ago“There’s hunger, however there’s huge” hope – Tinubu Lament
-
News1 day ago“This is m@dness” – Young man disrupts the peace inside banking hall as he plays song using his JBL speaker, clip trends online (Watch)
-
Biafra1 day agoFG confirms arrest of Simon Ekpa by Finnish authorities
-
Lifestyle1 day agoNigerian man who passed away 10 years ago confesses he’s currently in Lagos, reveals big secret