The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Saturday,<\/p>\n
marked properties belonging to a former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu.<\/p>\n
The marking, DAILY POST learnt was to ensure that the properties are not dissipated, following the December 5th order of Justice Muhammed Idris sitting at the Federal High Court Ikoyi, Lagos that Kalu\u2019s company, Slok Nigeria Limited, be wound up and all assets forfeited to the Federal Government.<\/p>\n
EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.<\/p>\n
He added, \u201cKalu, who is the Senator representing Abia North in the National Assembly, had been arraigned alongside his company, Slok Nigeria Limited and Udeh Udeogu, his Director of Finance and Accounts at the Abia State Government House, over an amended 39-count charge bordering on conspiring and diverting the sum of N7.65bn from the coffers of the state.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against them by the EFCC, thereby leading to their full trial.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the course of the trial, the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, called 19 witnesses and tendered several documents that were admitted in evidence by the court.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe defendants, however, testified on behalf of themselves during the trial.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe parties, during the proceedings on Tuesday, October 22, 2019, adopted their final written addresses.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn his final submission, the prosecution counsel, Jacobs, urged the judge to jail the defendants, saying the prosecution had proved the allegations against them.<\/p>\n
\u201cJacobs also urged the court to wind up the company as provided by the Law and all its assets forfeited to the Federal Government.<\/p>\n
\u201cHowever, the defence counsel urged the court to dismiss the charges, acquit and discharge\u201d their clients.<\/p>\n
\u201cDelivering his judgment, Justice Idris found the defendants guilty on all counts.<\/p>\n
Justice Idris held that the prosecution had established its case against the defendants.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Judge further held that \u201cthe case was conclusively investigated, as the prosecution conducted thorough investigations.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cJustice Idris, therefore, convicted and sentenced the first defendant,<\/p>\n
Kalu to five years imprisonment on counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11; three years on counts 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33; 12 years on counts 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38 and five years on count 39.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe second defendant was convicted and sentenced to three years imprisonment on counts 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32 and 10 years on counts 34, 37, 38 and 39.<\/p>\n
\u201cJustice Idris further held that \u201cIn respect of the third convict, Slok Nigeria Limited, an order is hereby made that the company shall thereupon and without further assurances, but for this order, be wound up and all its assets and properties forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Saturday, marked properties belonging to a former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu. The marking, DAILY POST learnt was to ensure that the properties are not dissipated, following the December 5th order of Justice Muhammed Idris sitting at the Federal High Court Ikoyi, Lagos that Kalu\u2019s company, Slok […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":62,"featured_media":18856,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24,15],"tags":[132,68],"class_list":["post-18853","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-economy","tag-abia-state","tag-efcc"],"yoast_head":"\n