A former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, on Friday, failed to block the Federal Government from challenging a previous court judgment that halted his prosecution over an alleged N7.1 billion money laundering case. The judgment in question, delivered on September 29, 2021, by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, had initially put an end to the case against Kalu.
However, in two separate rulings, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal dismissed objections raised by Kalu and his company, Slok Nigeria Limited, against the Federal Government’s request to file an appeal after the allowed time had elapsed. The appeal was initiated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Kalu and Slok had argued that the appellate court had already ruled on a related matter on March 6, 2024, and therefore could no longer revisit the case. They contended that the court had essentially completed its role in the matter, rendering it powerless to hear any further motions.
Justice Ishaq Sanni, who delivered the rulings on behalf of the appellate panel, explained that the March 6, 2024, decision did not resolve the core issues of the appeal. Instead, it was based on a procedural error, specifically the improper certification of court records by an official who failed to include their designation.
Since that earlier ruling came after the three-month window for filing an appeal had passed, the Federal Government needed permission to proceed. Justice Sanni approved the request, granting the government an extension of time to submit its appeal. He further directed that the notice of appeal must be filed within 14 days.
This development reopens the door for the Federal Government to pursue its case against Kalu and Slok Nigeria Limited regarding the alleged misuse of N7.1 billion.
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