Money laundering: FG asks Appeal Court to retry Orji Kalu

The federal government has asked the Court of Appeal, Abuja, to order fresh trial of a former governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu…

The federal government has asked the Court of Appeal, Abuja, to order fresh trial of a former governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu over alleged N7.1bn money laundering charges.

The application by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is asking the appellate court to nullify and set aside the September 29, 2021 judgment of a Federal High Court in Abuja, which stopped its plans to re-arraign Kalu and his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited over the 12-count charges 

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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 are contained in two notices of appeal filed by lawyer to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs against the two judgments delivered by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the high court.

Justice Ekwo had ruled that the moves to file fresh charges against Kalu after his conviction and sentence and subsequent Supreme Court acquittal alongside his company, Slok Nigeria Ltd, would amount to double jeopardy.

The court upheld the ex-governor’s submission and ordered the retrial of former Commissioner for Finance, Jones Udeogu, who was earlier convicted along with Kalu.