Kalu, former Abia governor, back in court over ‘N3.2bn fraud’
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has re-arraigned Orji Kalu, a former governor of Abia, and two others on a 34-count amended charge bordering on fraud.
Kalu, his company, Slok Nigeria Limited and Jones Udeogo, his former commissioner for finance, were re-arraigned before Anwuri Chikere, a justice of the federal high court, Abuja, on Tuesday.
The defendants pleaded that the court should await the pending appeal by Slok before the supreme court, but it was turned down.
Chikere had refused the defendants’ objection to their arraignment and ordered that the charge be read to them.
In the amended charge, Kalu and others were accused of diverting about N3.2 billion from the Abia government’s treasury during Kalu’s tenure as governor.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges and Chikere allowed them on bail on the terms attached to the bail granted them on April 30, 2008.
Eight years ago, they were arraigned before Justice Adamu Bello, who is now retired.
The court adjourned the case till December 6 for commencement of trial.
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