By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka (Senior Correspondent, Lagos)
The trial of the former governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, and two others over alleged diversion of public funds to private use/money laundering continued on Tuesday before Justice Mohammed Idris of Federal High Court Lagos.
When the matter was called up for hearing, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) called its sixth witness, Mr John Ejim.
In his examination-in-chief, the witness, Ejim, an investigative officer with the anti-graft agency, told the court that sometimes in September 2005, the commission received a petition dated September 7, 2005 from a group known as Abia Leaders’ Forum. He further told the court that his team was later instructed to investigate the allegations raised by the petitioners.
The witness also revealed that prior to the receipt of the petition, the Commission was already building intelligence on all state governors and had already zeroed in on those who were accused of diverting their states’ funds.
The witness said: “It was on this basis that our team was directed to handle the issue of Abia State. We commenced investigation by writing letters to various banks that were identified in the intelligence information. We later analyzed the responses received from the banks. Search was also conducted with a duly-certified search warrant on the office of Slok Nigeria Limited, both at Victoria Island and Apapa.
“Documents recovered in the course of the search were properly documented while principal officers from Abia State Government House, among whom was the then Chief of Staff, Dr. Theodore Orji, were invited for questioning. The then Director of Finance and Account, Jones Udeogu, as well as two cashiers from the Account Department of Government House, Romanus Madu and Micheal Udoh, were also invited for interrogation”, the witness further said.
“Letters were also written to government agencies like the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) on the legal state of companies that were investigated. Responses were also received and these were used for further investigations”, the witness added.
During the proceedings, the court admitted statements made by Dr. Kalu as well as the second defendant, Udeh Jones Udeogu, to the EFCC as exhibits.
The trial in the matter continues on Wednesday.
