A Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned until fifth of this month, to deliver judgement in an about eight billion naira money laundering case against former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu.
The trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, had fixed today after the prosecution and the defence adopted their written addresses and made their final arguments on October 22 , but could not delivered as earlier slated, because he was out of jurisdiction.
Mr Kalu was tried alongside his company, Slok Nigeria Limited and Udeh Udeogu, who was Director of Finance and Accounts at the Abia State Government House during Mr Kalu’s tenure as governor.
In an amended 39 counts, they were accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, of conspiring and diverting the said sum from the state treasury.
The prosecution claimed that the said sum was converted into several bank drafts before they were paid into Slok Nigeria Limited.
EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), said the ex-governor violated Section 17(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004, and was liable to be punished under Section 16 of the same Act.
Apart from the said sum, which he was accused of laundering, the ex-governor and the other defendants were also accused of receiving a total of four hundred and sixty million naira also from the state purse between July and December 2002.
The prosecutor said they breached Section 427 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all counts.
EFCC called nineteen witnesses to proof their case while the defendants testified on behalf of themselves against the allegations.
