How Uzor Kalu Diverted Abia State Funds Into Account Of Slok Nigeria Limited – Witness
A prosecution witness, John Ejim, in the ongoing trial of former Abia State Governor, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu on Wednesday, told the Federal High Court in Lagos that the former governor diverted Abia State government money into the account of his private company, Slok Nigeria Limited.
Ejim also informed the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, that the second defendant, Udeh Jones Udeogu, used several fictitious names to buy bank drafts in favour of Inland Bank Limited and the money consequently moved to Slok Nigeria Limited’s account.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting Kalu, his Commissioner for Finance, Udeogu, and his company, Slok Nigeria Limited on an amended 34 count charge of N3.2 billion fraud.
They were alleged to have used the following banks to perpetrate the alleged fraud; Manny Bank, Spring Bank Plc,( now Heritage Bank), the defunct Standard Trust Bank (now United Bank for Africa Plc (UBA)) and Fin Land Bank (now First City Monument Bank (FCMB)).
They however all pleaded not guilty to the charge.
While being cross-examined by Kalu’s lawyer, Chief Awa Kalu (SAN), the witness said that the report of the investigation carried out by his team on the matter is in the EFCC’s file and that he never had any direct interface with the former governor throughout the period of the enquiry.
“The investigation started in 2004 through intelligence gathering activities. The report about the investigation we carried out is in EFCC’s file. I never had any direct interface with the first defendant (Dr. Kalu)”, the witness said.
Ejim further disclosed that he did not know the EFCC official that executed the search warrant on the office of Slok Nigeria Limited, both at Victoria Island and Apapa. He added that he was also not aware of any bank draft that was raised in favour of Dr. Kalu (first defendant).
He said: “I don’t know the officer who executed the warrant order. I did not see any bank draft made in favour of the first defendant. No draft was raised or lodged in the first defendant’s personal account”.
The EFCC’s investigative officer had earlier 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 said his team was later instructed to investigate the allegations raised by the petitioners.
The witness further disclosed that prior to the receipt of the petition, the EFCC was already building intelligence on all state governors and had already zeroed in on those who were accused of diverting their states’ funds.
“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 obtained 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 Michael Udoh, were also invited for interrogation”, the witness said.
Further hearing in the matter continues on Thursday.
