By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Hearing in the suit filed by the former governor of Abia State and currently the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, before a Federal High Court Abuja seeking to stop his retrial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on alleged money laundering charges has been adjourned to April 20.
The adjournment was because the EFCC which is listed as the first defendant in the suit was not properly served with the originating summons.
At the resumed hearing of the suit on Tuesday, EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, drew the attention of the court that the originating summons was served on his chambers instead of the EFCC.
He told Justice Inyang Ekwo that he was yet to be briefed by the anti-graft agency as its counsel, adding that it would amount to professional misconduct to accept processes on the matter.
While adjourning the case for hearing, Justice Ekwo directed the applicant to serve the EFCC within seven days.
The court had on February 8, 2021, granted leave to Kalu to challenge his retrial by the EFCC on the same charges upon which he was sentenced and convicted.
Justice Ekwo also ordered that the planned re-arraignment of Senator Kalu in the alleged N7.1billion money laundering charges be put on hold until the resolution of the legal questions raised against his retrial.