The Abuja Court of Appeal has delivered a blow to the federal government’s efforts to initiate a fresh trial against former Abia Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, over allegations of fraud and money laundering amounting to N7.6 billion.
Justice Joseph Oyewole, presiding in Abuja on Wednesday, led the appellate court in dismissing the government’s plea.
He ruled that the appeal record presented by the federal government was deficient and lacked credibility, rendering it unsuitable for any court to entertain.
Highlighting the shortcomings, Justice Oyewole emphasized the absence of compilation, signature, and certification by a legally recognized individual in the appeal record.
Notably, the crucial requirement of identifying the person responsible for compiling, signing, and certifying the record was not fulfilled.
Orji Kalu, who served as Abia State governor from 1999 to 2007, had previously been convicted and sentenced to a 12-year jail term by the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court.
Alongside his company, Slok Nigeria Limited, and a former state director of finance, Mr. Jones Udeogu, Kalu was found guilty of embezzling about N7.6 billion from the Abia State Treasury.
However, following Udeogu’s appeal, the Supreme Court overturned his conviction and sent the case file back for retrial. Subsequently, upon Kalu’s release from prison, the EFCC sought to re-arraign him and his co-defendants. Dissatisfied with this move, Kalu, now a senator representing Abia North, and his company filed separate suits challenging their retrial.
The Court of Appeal’s decision effectively marks the end of the federal government’s attempt to reopen Kalu’s trial, providing a significant legal victory for the former governor.
