N3.2bn Fraud: Court Adjourns Ex-Gov. Kalu’s Trial Until April 12

A Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday adjourned until April 12 for continuation of trial of a former Governor of Abia, Orji Uzor Kalu, charged with N3.2 billion fraud. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had on Oct. 31, 2016 had slammed a 34-count charge bordering on fraud against Kalu and his former Commissioner for Finance, Ude Udeogo. Also joined in the suit is Kalu’s company — Slok Nig. Ltd. The accused had pleaded not guilty to the charges. At the resumed hearing of the case on Tuesday, the prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Jacobs, had re-examined a second prosecution witness, Mrs Christiana Ohiri, branch Manager of UBA in Umuahia. Orji Kalu The witness, who had began her evidence in March during re-examination, said that she did not personally meet all the people who carried out transactions with the 36 bank drafts issued by her bank. She told the court that no payments were made to the accused from the Government House account between 2002 and 2005. When cross-examined by defence counsel, Chief Gordy Uche (SAN), on a document containing information about 36 bank drafts issued by the Umuahia Branch of the bank, the witness said that no draft was paid by the accused or issued in his name. She said that the accused did not personally come to her to purchase any draft and his name was not included in any of the drafts.