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N7.1bn Fraud: Orji Uzor Kalu’s Trail Resumes Today
The trial of former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu seeking to halt EFCC from subjecting him to retrial in an alleged N7.1bn fraud charges resumes today, Monday, September 20, 2021.
Justice Inyang Eden Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, is expected to deliver a make or mar judgment in the suit.
EkoHotBlog recalls that the Judge had on July 2 fixed the date after Kalu and EFCC adopted all processes filed for and against the suit.
According to reports, the notice for delivery of judgment has been issued and served on both EFCC and Orji Uzor Kalu through their respective lawyers by the court bailiff.
Road To Orji Uzor Kalu’s Retrial
The former governor, who is now a Senator representing Abia North Senatorial district in the senate, is seeking to stop his retrial in the N7.1bn money laundering charges on the ground that he had been tried, convicted and imprisoned on the strength of the same charges.
Professor Awa Kalu (SAN), counsel to the Orji Uzor Kalu, while adopting his processes, had informed the court that senator Kalu stood for trial for 12 years and got a judgment that convicted and jailed him for 10 years.
The senior counsel cited section 36 (9) of the 1999 constitution which stipulates that no Nigerian shall be subjected to double jeopardy to support his arguments
Awa Kalu insisted that the former governor, having served a period of jail term, would be made to suffer double jeopardy if allowed by the court to be put on trial for the second time by the federal government.
Professor Kalu had produced and read the Supreme Court judgment upon which the ex governor was released after five months in prison adding that there was nowhere in the judgment where the apex court made order for his client’s trial.
He had challenged the EFCC to point out to court where order for retrial was made against the former governor
The senior lawyer had then urged the court to prohibit EFCC from going ahead with the planned retrial.
However in a vehement opposition to the suit., EFCC through its counsel, Mr Rotimi Jacobs SAN, asked the court to dismiss the suit with anger.
He submitted that the judgment which led to the release of Kalu has been declared a nullity by the Supreme Court which also ordered retrial of the appellant in the matter, Mr Udeh Jones who stood trial along with Kalu in the same charges.
EFCC had argued that since the Supreme Court order benefitted Kalu, he must bear the burden that arose from the apex court verdict.
Jacobs described Kalu’s suit as approbating and reprobating at the same time, frivolous, irritating and sought for it’s dismissal with order on Kalu to face retrial.
In a short ruling that followed, Justice Ekwo fixed Monday, September 20 for judgment in the matter.
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