By Williams Anuku, Abuja
A group, under the auspices of Concerned Nigerians, has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), asking it to reopen the case of senator Orji Uzor Kalu and re-arraign him in court as soon as possible.
The group also submitted a petition at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, where the Convener, Deji Adeyanju, said the petition was premised on the fact that six months after Kalu was freed by the Supreme Court through a unanimous decision bothering on the technical matter on the issue of jurisdiction and competency of the court that tried him, the Commission is yet to do the needful by re-arraigning the senator.
“We write to urgently request that you re-arraign Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and reopen all corruption cases against the former Abia State governor, ” the group said.
“You will recall that Mr Kalu, who is the current Senate Chief Whip, representing Abia North was sentenced to a 12-year jail term and had served about six months in prison for stealing N7.1 billion from Abia State treasury before he was released on May 8, 2020, by the Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision by a seven-member panel led by Justice Amina Augie on the technical ground that Mr Idris should not have continued to hear the case having been elevated to the Appeal Court. Six months later, the Commission is yet to re-arraign Senator Orji.
“We, therefore, call on the commission to reopen the corruption cases against Senator Orji. We equally enjoin the commission to consult its legal department to find solutions to the current legal tussle and ensure that justice is served, “Adeyanju stated.
He also seized the opportunity to remind the Commission of the pending petition with the Commission against Senator Godswill Akpabio, Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei and Senator Bola Tinubu.
He said,” We also appeal to you not to forget our petition against Senator Godswill Akpabio and Professor Pondei which we have already adopted.”
Adeyanju said that if the Commission fails to act on the petition, the group will do one more reminder, then will proceed to court to seek legal re