Court Sentenced Orji Kalu To 12 Years In Prison For Embezzling Funds

Mr. Orji Kalu (Ex-Governor of Abia State)

A Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, on Thursday 5, 2019, sentenced a serving senator and ex-governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu to 12 years in prison for N7.65 billion fraud.

Justice Mohammed Idris who delivered the sentence had earlier declared him guilty of the charge in the case that had been on for 12 years.

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 charge, they were accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of conspiring and diverting over N7 billion from the coffers of the state.

In one of the counts, the EFCC alleged that Mr. Kalu, who was Abia State Governor between 1999 and 2007, "did procure Slok Nigeria Limited, a company solely owned by you and members of your family to retain in its account, domiciled with the then Inland Bank Plc, Apapa branch, Lagos, an aggregate sum of N7,197,871,208.7 on your behalf."

The prosecution claimed that the N7.1 billion "formed part of the funds illegally derived from the treasury of the Abia State Government and which was converted into several bank drafts before they were paid into the said company's account."

The prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, 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 N7.1bn, which he was accused of laundering, the ex-governor and the other defendants were also accused of receiving a total of N460 million allegedly stolen from the Abia State Government treasury 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 had pleaded not guilty to all counts.

During the trial, the prosecution called 19 witnesses while the defendants testified on behalf of themselves.

In his judgement, Mr. Idris convicted and sentenced the first defendant, Mr. Kalu to five years imprisonment on counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, three years on counts 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, and twelve years on counts 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38, five years on count 39. All sentences are to run concurrently meaning he would be in prison for 12 years from the day of conviction.

The second defendant was convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment on counts 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32 and ten years on counts 34, 37, 38 and 39. The sentences will run concurrently meaning he would be in jail for 10 years.

Justice Idris further held that Mr. Kalu's company, Slok Nigeria Limited, the third defendant, be wounded up and all assets forfeited to the federal government.

Breaking: SSS Bows To Pressure And Release Sowore, Bakare

Sowore & Bakare

The convener of RevolutionNow Protest, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, has been released by the SSS today December 5,2019 in Abuja.

In a tweet by Sahara Reporters, Sowore and journalist Olawale Bakare (aka Mandate) have been released from detention.

This development comes after a court issued a 24 hour ultimatum for the release of Sowore and Bakare who have been in detention since August 3, 2019.

On Tuesday, December 3, 2019, Sowore's mother also pleaded with President Buhari to release her son.

Below is the twitter post from Sahara Reporters.

Court Roars To SSS Release Sowore, Bakare Within 24 Hours

A Federal Court sitting in Abuja has ordered the State Security Service (SSS) to immediately release Mr. Omoyele Sowore and his co-defendant, Olawale Bakare (Mandate), within the next 24hours.

L-R: Sowore, Bakare & Falana (SAN)

Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu gave the order at the scheduled commencement of the defendants trial on charges of treasonable felony.

According to Justice Ojukwu, the SSS had no justifiable reason to continue to hold the defendants in custody, after she signed the warrants for the release of the defendants from custody.

The prosecuting counsel, Hassan Liman (SAN), had insisted that the SSS did not refuse to comply with the order of the court.

He insisted that no order of the court has been violated, adding that none will be violated.

According to him, the prosecution don't even want the defendants in their custody.

The trial judge Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu asked him why have they not been released, a question which left him tongue-tied.

She insisted that she signed the bail order and she does not understand why it has not been complied with.

Justice Ojuwku said the matter will not continue, adding that since today's matter is adjourned at their instance she will award a cost of 100,000.00 Naira against the prosecution.

"The failure of the prosecution to carry out the order of the court to serve the defence and in view if this adjournment is at the instance of the prosecution and in view of section 396 of ACJA, I will award the cost of 100,000 against the prosecution and in view of refusal of the prosecution to release the defendant this court will give the prosecution the next 24 hours to comply with the order of court," she said.

Justice Ojukwu insisted that the law cannot change for anybody and all must respect the law.

The case has been adjourned to the 6th of December for a report on the court's order.