The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has re-arraigned the former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, on Monday before the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court 34 counts of money laundering.

Also arraigned before the court are Udeh Udeogu, a former Director of Finance in the state, and Slok Nigeria Limited.
Mr. Kalu, who served as governor between 1999 and 2007, was first arraigned in 2007 on a 96-count charge of money laundering.

After a lengthy legal battle, the Supreme Court, in 2016, ordered him to stand trial.

In the amended charge, the EFCC alleged that Mr. Kalu and the accused persons had, between August 7, 2001, and December 2005, (while Mr. Kalu was the governor of Abia State), used the said money to procure Slok Nigeria Limited, a company EFCC said solely belongs to Mr. Kalu and his family.

The accused persons and Emeka Abone, said to be at large, were also alleged to have between May 2002 and December 2005, conspired among themselves to launder funds illegally derived from the Treasury of Abia State government.

They were also alleged to have aggregated several millions of naira amounting to N3.2 billion, property of Abia State government, knowing that the said amount formed parts of funds stolen from the Treasury of Abia State government.

The accused persons were alleged to have laundered the funds through Manny Bank (now Fidelity Bank Plc), Spring Bank Plc, the defunct Standard Trust Bank and Fin Land Bank, now First City Monument Bank (FCMB).

In counts one to 10, Mr. Kalu was alleged to have, between August 13, 2003 and August 10, 2005, acquired Slok Nigeria Limited as well as retained in his account domiciled with the Apapa branch of First Inland Bank Plc, the total sum of N2. 502, 600 billion.

The money was said to have been derived from the treasury of Abia State government, through Manny Bank (now Fidelity Bank Plc), which were converted into several bank drafts and paid into the account of Slok Nigeria Limited.

In counts 11 to 20, Slok Nigeria Limited and Mr. Abone were alleged to have between April 29, 2003 and August 10, 2005, retained in their accounts domiciled with the Apapa branch of First Inland Bank now First City Monument Bank, the total sum of N2.493 billion, on behalf of Mr. Kalu.

Counts 22 to 33 accused Messrs Kalu, Udeogu, Abone, and Slok Nigeria Limited and E, to have between August 13, 2003, and August 10, 2005, collaborated and concealed N2.187,400 billion, which formed parts of funds Illegally derived from the treasury of Abia State government, through Manny Bank (now Fidelity Bank), and converted and paid the said sum into the account of Slok Nigeria Limited, with the Apapa branch of First Inland Bank Plc.

In count 34, the defendants were accused of, between May 2002 and December 2005, conspiring to commit money laundering of funds illegally derived from the treasury of Abia State government.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charge.

After taking their plea, counsels to the defendants, Mike Ozekhome and Solo Akuma, both Senior Advocates of Nigeria, urged the court to allow their clients to continue with the bail term earlier granted them.

Mr. Ozekhome told Justice Mohammed Idris that their clients had been arraigned before three different judges in Abuja Federal High Courts, before they were re-arraigned again.

The prosecutor, Mr. Adeniyi, did not opposed the submission of lawyers to the accused persons, but said his agency only interested in the trial of the accused persons.

Mr. Idris adjourned till December 12 and 13 for trial, while ordering that the accused persons continue to enjoy their existing bails.