The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has described as a technical ambush, the judgement of the Supreme Court nullifying the 12 years jail term of former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu.
The Supreme Court, earlier on Friday, declared that Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court acted without jurisdiction when he gave the judgement against Kalu in an alleged N7.1 billion fraud case.
The anti-graft agency in a statement issued by its spokesman, Dele Oyewale, described the judgement as unfortunate and vowed to commence a fresh trial against the former governor.
EFCC pointed out that the Supreme Court did not acquit him and other defendants of the charges against them.
The statement reads: “The attention of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to the judgment of the Supreme Court nullifying the trial of a former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and Jones Udeogu, a former Director of Finance and Account of Abia State Government and ordering their fresh trial at the lower court.
“The apex court based its verdict on the grounds that Justice Mohammed Idris, who convicted Kalu and others had been elevated to the Court of Appeal before the judgment and returned to the lower court to deliver the judgment which it considered as illegal.
“The EFCC considers the judgment of the apex court as quite unfortunate. It is a technical ambush against the trial of the former governor. The Commission is prepared for a fresh and immediate trial of the case because its evidences against Kalu and others are overwhelming.
“The corruption charges against Kalu still subsist because the Supreme Court did not acquit him of them. The entire prosecutorial machinery of the EFCC would be launched in a fresh trial where justice is bound to be served in due course.”
