The Court of Appeal has issued a ruling preventing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from initiating a retrial of the former Governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu over N7.1billion fraud.
Government pleads with the appellate court to void and set aside the September 29, 2021 judgment of the Federal High Court which prohibited it from retrying the former governor, and his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited over alleged N7.1 billion fraud.
The Federal Government, acting through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), also wants the appellate court to order Kalu and Slok to submit themselves for retrial in line with the order of the Supreme Court in its May 8, 2020 judgment voiding the earlier trial and conviction of Kalu and two others, and ordering a retrial.
The request is contained in two notices of appeal filed by a lawyer to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) against the two judgments delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja on September 29.
Justice Ekwo had, in the judgments on applications for judicial review filed by Kalu and Slok, upheld among others, their argument that a retrial would subject them to double jeopardy having earlier been tried, convicted and sentenced on the same case.
Kalu was charged and tried with Slok and Udeogu for their alleged complicity in diverting the N7.1 billion from Abia State’s coffers. They were convicted and while Kalu and Udeogu were imprisoned for 12 and 10 years, Slok was wound up.
