‘N5.6bn fraud’: Orji Kalu’s arraignment fails to hold

The  arraignment of Orji Kalu, former governor of Abia state, before Anwuli Chikere, a justice of the federal high court, Abuja failed to take place on Monday as scheduled.

Solomon Aku (SAN), counsel to Slok Nigeria Limited, Kalu’s company, asked the court to adjourn the case on the grounds that there was a subsisting appeal at the supreme court.

Aku argued that Slok Nigeria Limited, the third defendant in the case, still had a pending case at the supreme court which had not been determination.

Oluwaleke Afolabi, counsel to the federal government, the prosecution, admitted that there was a pending appeal on the matter at the supreme court.

Chikere, thereafter, adjourned the case to June 30 pending the determination of the appeal at the supreme court.

This is the second time the arraignment of the  former governor, who is accused of money laundering and corruption to the tune of N5.6bn, is being stalled.

Although, he was first arraigned on July 27, 2007 at the federal high court, Abuja, on a 107-count charge of money laundering and diversion of public funds, his trial did not commence.

Also, for eight years Orji’s trial could not commence because he challenged the criminal charges against him at various courts, stalling the case.

He had approached the appeal court for an order to stop his trial, but the court declined to grant his request.

On March 18, the supreme court also dismissed an appeal to stop his trial; thus paving the way for his re-arraignment on April 11. But the exercise was stalled as well on that day.

Orji was the governor of Abia state from 1999 to 2007.