N3.2bn Fraud: Court Dismisses Kalu, Others’ No-Case-Submissions

A Federal High Court, Lagos, Tuesday, dismissed a No-Case-Submissions, filed by a former Governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, to an alleged N3.2 billion criminal charge filed against him.

Similarly, the court presided over by Justice Mohammed Idris, also dismissed such applications filed by Kalu’s co-accused, Udeogu Udeh Jones, and Kalu’s company, Slok Nigeria Limited.

Consequently, Justice Idris has adjourned till September 10, for the defendants to open their defence.

Ruling on the No-Case-Submissions, Justice Idris said the defendants have some explanations to make in the light of the exhibits and evidences put before the court by the prosecution while presenting its case.

In his motion, the former Abia governor had argued that the entirety of the evidence of the prosecution witnesses not only woefully bears no relationship with the charge but also failed to establish any linkage or nexus with him.

Contrary to the prosecution’s claims, Dr. Kalu maintained that there was no evidence whatsoever or facts leading to any reasonable inference that he in any manner whatsoever ‘procured’ by initiating a proceeding to cause a thing to be done, instigated, contrived, bring about, effect or cause the third defendant (Slok Nig. Ltd) to retain any monies whatsoever in its account from the treasury of Abia State Government.

It was disclosed that, “The prosecution throughout the length and breadth of its case, never led any evidence of any board resolution of the third defendant company to accept any fund whatsoever from the first defendant (Dr. Kalu).

“The prosecution also failed to show any instruction whatsoever from the first defendant to the second defendant (Udeh Jones Udeogu) to receive any fund from the treasury of Abia state and no evidence was led to show any instruction or authorization from the first defendant to the second defendant to pay any funds whatsoever to the account of the third defendant.

“The feeble and indeed futile attempt by the prosecution to show that the first defendant remained as the chairman of the third defendant even after assuming office as the Executive Governor of Abia State was clearly and manifestly discredited under cross-examination as the first defendant was shown to have resigned his membership of the third defendant since 1999”.