After successfully stalling his trial before an Abuja Federal High Court for about 8 years, the rearraignment of the former governor of Abia state, Orji Kalu has again met a brickwall before Justice Anwuli Chikere because of a pending appeal before the Supreme Court.
At the proposed rearraignment before Justice Chikere, Solomon Akuma, counsel to Udeh Udeogu and Slok Nigeria Limited who are standing trial alongside Kalu informed the court about a third and pending appeal before the Supreme Court by Slok Nigeria Limited.
He affirmed that even though the prosecution had submitted before the court, two judgements by the Supreme Court, there was still a third pending appeal at the Supreme Court by Slok Nigeria Limited which is yet to be heard.
According to him SC/215/2012, SC/264/2012 were concluded by the apex court, but appeal number SC/264A/2012 had not been concluded while briefs have been filed and exchanged by the parties involved.
“The appeals were not consolidated, they are praying on their own. The registrar of the Supreme Court inadvertently failed to list the appeal. At the court of appeal, they were consolidated, when we were going to the Supreme Court. The defendants went their separate ways as a result of a Supreme Court decision. The appeal of Slok is still subsisting and has not been taken”, he posited.
He urged the court to adjourn the matter for it go back to the apex court to get the matter soughted, having written the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) and the director of litigation at the Supreme Court for a date to hear the matter.
Prosecution counsel, Olwaleke Atolagbe confirmed the pending appeal bothering on the same issue earlier decided by the Supreme Court.
“I also bring to the notice of the court that we have filed a further and amended charge which has been served on counsels to the defendants”, he submitted.
The court however adjourned the matter to June 30, 2016 to confirm if a date has been fixed for the pending appeal, and for mention.
Kalu, Udeogu and Slok Nigeria Limited were earlier arraigned in July 27, 2007 in a 107 count charge, which has been amended to a 34 count charge.
According to the new amended charge which, the former governor is accused of illegally laundering a total sum of N3.2billion.
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