The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, recommenced the trial of the former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, and two others, eight years after the case was stalled,
Kalu was arraigned with Jones Udeogo, his former assistant, and his company, Slok Nigeria Limited, on a 34-count charge before a Federal High Court in Abuja.
They were accused of diverting about N3.2 billion from the Abia State government’s treasury during Kalu’s eight years tenure as Abia State governor.
Before the arraignment, the defendants had argued against the proceedings and urged the court to await the pending appeal by Slok before the Supreme Court.
However, Justice Anwuri Chikere, rejected the objection and ordered that the charges be read out to them.
Kalu and his co-accused pleaded not guilty when the charges were read out to them, following which the court granted them bail on the terms attached to the one granted them in April 2008 by retired Justice Adamu Bello when the case first began.
Justice Chikere then adjourned to December 6 for the commencement of trial.
.Thewill
