... as Court Adjourns to Aug 26

LAGOS — Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, on Monday, opened his defence in an alleged N7.6 billion fraud trial, Igbere TV reports.

Igbere TV reports that the case involves the former Governor of Abia State Abia and two others.

The case is before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos.

Kalu is standing trial alongside his former Finance Commissioner, Ude Udeogu, and company, SLOK Nigeria Limited, on a 39-count charge bordering on money laundering.

Senator Kalu representing Abia North Senatorial District, allegedly committed the offence between August 2001 and October 2005 when he was governor.

The case was suspended after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), May 11, 2018 through its counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), closed its case after calling 19 witnesses.

However, the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, recently, issued a fresh fiat to Justice Idris to conclude the case.

At yesterday's sitting, Kalu’s lawyer, Awa Kalu (SAN), told the court that he received a letter from the prosecution informing him of the resumption of the case.

He said also that he had informed Justice Idris that he would not be available in court due to his involvement in some election petition matters.

He, however, said that he had to appear out of the respect he had for the court so as to explain his predicament in person.

Kalu, SAN also told the court that he had to rush down to Lagos from Abuja without the case file due to the fact that his Secretary, whom he said was bereaved, could not prepare the case file.

He, therefore, asked the court for a short adjournment for the defence to open its case which was at first rejected by the court.

Responding, Justice Idris said there waa a prior notice to all the parties in the matter, stating that the hearing of the case should resume.

Kalu, SAN thereafter, took to the dock to open his defence.

Led in evidence by his counsel, Orji Kalu told the court his name and stated that he was a manufacturer of home goods until he resigned some weeks ago to become a Senator.

He also told the court that he had pleaded “not guilty” to all the 39-count charges preferred against him by the EFCC and that he was aware that the trial was a joint trial involving Ude Udeogo and SLOK Nigeria Limited.

Kalu’s lawyer, at that point, re-applied for an adjournment of the case.

Justice Idris granted the prayer and adjourned the case to August 26, 2019 for continuation of defence.

He, however, ruled that “the proceedings will continue on a day-to-day basis till it is concluded.”

Igbere TV reports that the second and third defendants, Udeogo and SLOK Nigeria Limited were not represented in court for Monday's proceedings.

http://igberetvnews.com/838904/alleged-n7-6bn-fraud-senate-chief-whip-kalu-opens-defence/

Cc: Lalasticlala, Mynd44, OAM4J