Court Stops Kalu’s Trial

A Federal High Court on Monday in Abuja, stopped the trial of Orji Uzor Kalu, former Governor of Abia, over alleged misappropriation of N5.2 billion “security votes’’ meant for the state.

Justice Adamu Bello held that the step had become necessary in law to ensure the determination of the accused appeal pending in the Supreme Court.

“The oral application filed by the counsel to the accused is appropriate and it is hereby granted, this court shall resume trial of the accused person after the pending appeal is decided,’’ Bello said.

At the resumed hearing of the case, Chief Awa Kalu, Counsel to the accused, filed an oral application seeking to stop the trial pending the dispensation of his client’s appeal at the Supreme Court.

The accused, who was a governor of the state between 1999 and 2007, is contesting the decision of the Court of Appeal, Abuja, which held on April 27 that he had a case to answer.

The accused and his company, Slok Nigeria Ltd., had sought a declaration that they were arraigned on non-existent law.

They had further sought a declaration that the proof of evidence did not disclose a prima facie case against them.

The accused argued further that since the Abia State High Court had issued an ex-parte motion on the matter, the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the case.

He also sought the leave of the appellate court to enforce his fundamental human rights by declaring his arrest, detention and arraignment a nullity.

The accused had asked the court to determine whether the EFCC and the Federal Government were competent to prosecute a case involving the revenue of a state.

The EFCC had on July 27, 2007 arraigned the former governor on a 107-count charge of money laundering, official corruption and criminal diversion of public funds totaling over N5 billion.