July 24, 2007
Embattled former Governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, is to remain in Kuje prison until Friday when a Federal High Court in Abuja is expected to deliver ruling on his bail application. Justice Binta MurtalaNyako gave the order this morning after listening to arguments by Kalu’s lawyer, Chief Levi Uzoukwu, SAN, on why the former governor should be granted bail.
Uzoukwu, while moving the application for Kalu’s bail, urged the court to grant his client bail because, “it was Kalu who came to justice himself and was not taken to justice”.
According to Uzoukwu, Kalu promised to appear before the EFCC when he was invited and showed up later on his own volition before he was arrested by the anti-graft body.
In his response to the application, counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacob, urged the court not to grant Kalu bail because he is likely to interfere with the witnesses.
He disclosed that further investigation was still on with respect to other criminal charges against the governor and that if granted bail, Kalu who still commands some influence in Abia State, may likely interfere with the course of the investigation.
But Kalu’s counsel rose up again and urged the judge to discountenance Jacob’s submissions, saying that it is assumed that the EFCC had concluded investigations into Kalu’s alleged charges when he was charged before the court.
He submitted that the former governor cannot be made to remain in prison on account of further investigation.
He added that all the 10 witnesses assembled by the EFCC on the matter did not implicate Kalu in their statements to the EFCC.
He prayed the court to grant his client bail after adopting all the affidavits.
The judge fixed ruling on the bail application to Friday, 27 July, same day former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Saminu Turaki’s bail application would be decided by the court.
Kalu is facing a 107-count charge of allegations bordering on corruption and money laundering.
He was arraigned in court last week (Tuesday) and was remanded in prison.
His multi-million naira assets have been frozen by the EFCC on account of the money laundering allegations the commission levelled against him.
Uzoukwu, while moving the application for Kalu’s bail, urged the court to grant his client bail because, “it was Kalu who came to justice himself and was not taken to justice”.
According to Uzoukwu, Kalu promised to appear before the EFCC when he was invited and showed up later on his own volition before he was arrested by the anti-graft body.
In his response to the application, counsel to the EFCC, Mr. Rotimi Jacob, urged the court not to grant Kalu bail because he is likely to interfere with the witnesses.
He disclosed that further investigation was still on with respect to other criminal charges against the governor and that if granted bail, Kalu who still commands some influence in Abia State, may likely interfere with the course of the investigation.
But Kalu’s counsel rose up again and urged the judge to discountenance Jacob’s submissions, saying that it is assumed that the EFCC had concluded investigations into Kalu’s alleged charges when he was charged before the court.
He submitted that the former governor cannot be made to remain in prison on account of further investigation.
He added that all the 10 witnesses assembled by the EFCC on the matter did not implicate Kalu in their statements to the EFCC.
He prayed the court to grant his client bail after adopting all the affidavits.
The judge fixed ruling on the bail application to Friday, 27 July, same day former governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Saminu Turaki’s bail application would be decided by the court.
Kalu is facing a 107-count charge of allegations bordering on corruption and money laundering.
He was arraigned in court last week (Tuesday) and was remanded in prison.
His multi-million naira assets have been frozen by the EFCC on account of the money laundering allegations the commission levelled against him.
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