The Supreme Court has granted the Federal Government (FG) permission to challenge the judgment that barred the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from retrying former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, over an alleged N7.1 billion fraud.
Delivering its ruling on Friday, Justice Ishaq Sanni dismissed objections raised by Kalu and his firm, Slok Nigeria Ltd, ruling that the Court of Appeal's decision to strike out FG’s appeal was based on a technicality, not the case's merit.
Background of the Case
Kalu was convicted in 2019 and sentenced to 12 years in prison alongside his firm and a former Abia State official, Jones Udeogu. However, the Supreme Court nullified Udeogu’s conviction in 2020, citing improper judicial procedure, leading to Kalu’s release.
When the EFCC sought to retry him, Kalu challenged the move, arguing it amounted to double jeopardy. The Federal High Court in Abuja ruled in his favor in September 2021, preventing a retrial.
The Court of Appeal later struck out FG’s appeal on technical grounds, prompting FG to escalate the case to the Supreme Court, which has now allowed the government to file a fresh appeal within 14 days.
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