Alleged N7.1bn fraud: Court bars EFCC from retrying Orji Uzor Kalu

The Federal High Court has prohibited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from retrying former Abia Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu.

Justice Inyang Ekwo gave the order while delivering judgment in an application filed by the former governor seeking an order of court prohibiting the EFCC from retrying him on a charge for which he had already been tried and convicted.

The judge said: “An order is hereby made prohibiting the Federal Government through the EFCC from retryiing the applicant (Kalu) on charge no. FHC/ABJ/CR/56/2007 since there was no order in the judgment of the Supreme Court for the retrial of Kalu.

Mr Kalu was earlier found guilty of alleged N7.1 billion money laundering charge against him and was thereafter handed a 12-year jail term by the Lagos Division of the court.

But the Supreme Court, in its judgement on May 8, quashed the conviction and ordered a retrial of the defendants by the EFCC.