NEWS: EFCC Re-arraigns Former Abia Gov. Orji Kalu, Others For Alleged N3.2bn Theft

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has once again arraigned a former governor of Abia, Orji Uzor Kalu together with two other people on a 34-count amended charge of fraud.

The former governor, his company Slok Nigeria Limited and his former commissioner for finance, Jones Udeogo, were re-arraigned before the Federal High Court, Abuja on Tuesday, September 27, with Justice Anwuri Chikere presiding.

According to Punch, Uzor Kalu and other defendants pleaded that the court wait for the pending appeal by Slok before the Supreme Court, however their plea failed.

Justice Chikere refused the defendants’ objection to their arraignment and ordered that the amended charge be read to them. They were accused of diverting about N3.2 billion from the Abia government’s treasury during Kalu’s tenure as governor.

They defendants all pleaded not guilty to the charges and Chikere allowed them on bail on the terms attached to the bail granted them on April 30, 2008. The court adjourned the case till December 6 for commencement of trial.

Meanwhile, a former chief naval staff Usman Jibrin has been arraigned in court by the EFCC.

Jibrin, a vice admiral (retired) was arraigned on Tuesday, September 27, alongside three others – Bala Mshelia, Shehu Ahmadu, both retired rear admirals and Habour Bay International limited – over allegations of criminal conspiracy.

The EFCC alleged that the former naval chief and the other accused persons allegedly conspired and bought a house of N600 million while in office.