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Money laundering

Jan 2, 2025

FRN vs Orji Uzor Kalu (Former Governor of Abia State) & 2 others

Orji Uzor Kalu
& 2 others

N7.6 billion
Amount allegedly laundered

Case Summary
The accused persons were charged over alleged diversion of public funds and money laundering while in office.

6,413
Day(s) since arraignment

Case Update
The court found the defendants guilty and convicted them on an amended 39-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering. The first defendant was sentenced 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. The 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. All sentences are to run concurrently. The court further ordered the 3rd defendant, Slok Nigeria Limited be wound up and its assets forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. However, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, in an appeal filed by the second convict, nullified the conviction and ordered a fresh trial before a lower court on the ground that Hon. Justice Mohammed Idris who was elevated to Court of Appeal cannot sit as a judge of Federal High Court in line with Section 396(7) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, on which the then President of the Court of Appeal relied on to authorize Justice Idris to return to the Federal High Court to conclude the trial. The Federal High Court, ruling on an application by the first and third defendants seeking to challenge their retrial, held that the judgement delivered by the Supreme Court did not order the retrial of either the first or third defendant. The judge added that the Supreme Court only ordered the retrial of the second defendant and consequently granted the application and barred the Federal Government from re-arraigning the defendants. The trial judge refused the application of the prosecution seeking to transfer the re-arraignment of the defendants from the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to the Lagos Division on the ground that the application was hinged on territorial jurisdiction since it has been established that the defendant committed the alleged offence in Lagos.

Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo
Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja

ACJA/ACJL Compliance - violated

Case Information

Orji Uzor Kalu & 2 others

Presiding Judge & Designated Court

Hon. Justice I. E. Ekwo, Federal High Court, Maitama, Abuja

Nature and Number of Charges

39-count amended charge of money laundering.

Date of 1st Arraignment

Jun 13, 2007

Summary of Case

The accused persons were charged over alleged diversion of public funds and money laundering while in office.

Defendant(s) and Plea entered on Arraignment

1. Orji Uzor Kalu (Former Governor of Abia State) – Not guilty

2. Ude Udeogu (Former Commissioner for Finance, Abia State) – Not guilty

3. Slok Nigeria Limited (Company) – Not guilty

Defence Counsel(s)

1. Awa Kalu (Senior Advocate of Nigeria)

2. Solo Akuma (Senior Advocate Of Nigeria)

Prosecuting Agency

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission

Prosecutor(s)

1. Rotimi Jacobs (Senior Advocate of Nigeria)

Status of Case

On Trial

Stage of Trial

Prosecution Stage

Length of Trial

6,413 day(s)

Case Update

The court found the defendants guilty and convicted them on an amended 39-count charge of conspiracy and money laundering. The first defendant was sentenced 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. The 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. All sentences are to run concurrently. The court further ordered the 3rd defendant, Slok Nigeria Limited be wound up and its assets forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria. However, the Supreme Court of Nigeria, in an appeal filed by the second convict, nullified the conviction and ordered a fresh trial before a lower court on the ground that Hon. Justice Mohammed Idris who was elevated to Court of Appeal cannot sit as a judge of Federal High Court in line with Section 396(7) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, on which the then President of the Court of Appeal relied on to authorize Justice Idris to return to the Federal High Court to conclude the trial. The Federal High Court, ruling on an application by the first and third defendants seeking to challenge their retrial, held that the judgement delivered by the Supreme Court did not order the retrial of either the first or third defendant. The judge added that the Supreme Court only ordered the retrial of the second defendant and consequently granted the application and barred the Federal Government from re-arraigning the defendants. The trial judge refused the application of the prosecution seeking to transfer the re-arraignment of the defendants from the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court to the Lagos Division on the ground that the application was hinged on territorial jurisdiction since it has been established that the defendant committed the alleged offence in Lagos.

ACJA/ACJL Compliance

Violated