Alleged N7.1bn Fraud: Kalu’s Company Gets Court’s Nod to Challenge Retrial

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja Division of the Federal High
Court, on Monday granted leave to Slok Nigeria Limited, a firm
owned by former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Kalu, to
challenge its planned retrial by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) on corruption allegations.

Slok, Kalu and a former Finance Director during Kalu’s
administration, Ude Udeogu, were convicted of alleged criminal
charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N7.1
billion.

However, their conviction was quashed by the Supreme Court on
grounds that the trial judge, who convicted them should have handed
off the case following his elevation to the Court of Appeal.

The Supreme Court in nullifying the conviction however ordered a
fresh trial of the defendants, thereby resulting to a request by
the company to challenge its fresh trial by the EFCC.

In a short ruling on Monday, Justice Ekwo while granting leave
to Slok to proceed to file a suit against its retrial, ordered the
firm to serve the respondents in the case marked:
FHC/ABJ/CS/475/2021 — the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), Kalu
and Udeogu — within seven days.

Justice Ekwo consequently adjourned to July 13 for hearing.

In the new suit, Slok is seeking to prohibit the federal
government and its agents, including the EFCC, from retrying it
based on the same case on which it was earlier convicted and
sentenced, arguing that it would amount to being subjected to
double jeopardy.

Slok also argued that such a retrial was unnecessary because
there was “no order of a superior court in Nigeria mandating
same”.

It is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the
federal government, through the EFCC, from “further retrying,
harassing and/or intimidating the applicant with respect to charge
No: FHC/ABJ/CR/56/07 FRN v. Orji Uzor Kalu and 2 others or any
matter connected thereto or therewith, or any other charge based on
the same facts or having the same ingredients”.

Slok argued that having already been tried and convicted, it is
protected from double jeopardy by the constitution and by the
law.

Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Abuja Division of the Federal High
Court, on Monday granted leave to Slok Nigeria Limited, a firm
owned by former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Kalu, to
challenge its planned retrial by the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) on corruption allegations.

Slok, Kalu and a former Finance Director during Kalu’s
administration, Ude Udeogu, were convicted of alleged criminal
charges bordering on money laundering to the tune of N7.1
billion.

However, their conviction was quashed by the Supreme Court on
grounds that the trial judge, who convicted them should have handed
off the case following his elevation to the Court of Appeal.

The Supreme Court in nullifying the conviction however ordered a
fresh trial of the defendants, thereby resulting to a request by
the company to challenge its fresh trial by the EFCC.

In a short ruling on Monday, Justice Ekwo while granting leave
to Slok to proceed to file a suit against its retrial, ordered the
firm to serve the respondents in the case marked:
FHC/ABJ/CS/475/2021 — the Federal Republic of Nigeria (FRN), Kalu
and Udeogu — within seven days.

Justice Ekwo consequently adjourned to July 13 for hearing.

In the new suit, Slok is seeking to prohibit the federal
government and its agents, including the EFCC, from retrying it
based on the same case on which it was earlier convicted and
sentenced, arguing that it would amount to being subjected to
double jeopardy.

Slok also argued that such a retrial was unnecessary because
there was “no order of a superior court in Nigeria mandating
same”.

It is also seeking a perpetual injunction restraining the
federal government, through the EFCC, from “further retrying,
harassing and/or intimidating the applicant with respect to charge
No: FHC/ABJ/CR/56/07 FRN v. Orji Uzor Kalu and 2 others or any
matter connected thereto or therewith, or any other charge based on
the same facts or having the same ingredients”.

Slok argued that having already been tried and convicted, it is
protected from double jeopardy by the constitution and by the
law.