Supreme Court Judgement on Orji Uzor Kalu is a technical ambush, we are ready for a re-trial… EFCC

Supreme Court Judgement on Orji Uzor Kalu is a technical ambush, we are ready for a re-trial… EFCC

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has described the supreme court judgement on the earlier conviction of the former Governor of Abia state, Orji Uzor Kalu as a technical ambush, unfortunate and set back on the fight against corruption in Nigeria. This was contained in a press release duly signed by the commission’s Director of Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale.

It would be recalled that the Economic and Financial Crime Commission secured a conviction against Mr Kalu at the court of appeal and has since began to serve his jail term, but in a swift hearing that many has described as hasty, the apex court in the land ruled that the trial did not follow the required constitutional process and declared that the High conduct a fresh trial of the case levelled against him.

Mr Dele Oyewale in the press release says the corruption charges against Kalu still subsist because the Supreme Court did not acquit him of them, hencethe commission will bring all its prosecutorial powers to bear to ensure justice is served.

Please read details of the press release below

EFCC PRESS RELEASE

Orji Kalu: EFCC SET FOR FRESH, IMMEDIATE RE-TRIAL

The attention of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to the judgment of the Supreme Court nullifying the trial of a former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu , his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and Jones Udeogu, a former Director of Finance and Account of Abia State Government and ordering their fresh trial at the lower court.

The apex court based its verdict on the grounds that Justice Mohammed Idris, who convicted Kalu and others had been elevated to the Court of Appeal before the judgment and returned to the lower court to deliver the judgment which it considered as illegal.

The EFCC considers the judgment of the apex court as quite unfortunate . It is a technical ambush against the trial of the former governor. The Commission is prepared for a fresh and immediate trial of the case because its evidences against Kalu and others are overwhelming. The corruption charges against Kalu still subsist because the Supreme Court did not acquit him of them. The entire prosecutorial machinery of the EFCC would be launched in a fresh trial where justice is bound to be served in due course.

Full Statement shortly pls.

Dele Oyewale
Head, Media & Publicity
08/05/2020.