FG Reopens Ex-Gov. Orji Kalu’s N5bn Corruption Case

orji uzor kalu

The Federal Government on Wednesday re-opened the trial of former Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.

Mr. Kalu, who governed Abia from 1999-2007, is standing trial on a 107-count charge of money laundering, official corruption and criminal diversion of public funds in excess of N5 billion.

The office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) had earlier written to the Federal High Court, Abuja, to get a fresh hearing date on the case, which began in 2007.

In response to the letter from the OAGF, the court listed the case for mention on Wednesday.

When the case reopened on Wednesday, the prosecution was represented in court by Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), while the defence had no representation.

It would be recalled that Kalu was first arraigned by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on July 27, 2007.

He approached the Court of Appeal to set aside the ruling of the Federal High Court that he had a case to answer.

The appellate court, however, dismissed the appeal for lack of merit and gave the EFCC go-ahead to prosecute the former governor, a decision he later appealed at the Supreme Court.