COURT SENTENCE FORMER GOVERNOR KALU TO 12 YEARS IMPRISONMENT OVER N7.65 BILLION FRAUD
Penpushing further reports that, Kalu left office in 2007, and in October 2016, the anti-graft agency renewed its prosecution but the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and granted bail, while the commission ultimately reactivated case last year,
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed amended graft charges of up to N7.7 billion against Kalu, and in one of the counts against him, the commission alleged that Kalu “did procure Slok Nigeria Limited – a company solely owned by you and members of your family – to retain in its account, domiciled with the then Inland Bank Plc, Apapa branch, Lagos, an aggregate sum of N7, 197,871,208.7 on your behalf.”
Penpushing also reports that, the prosecution claimed that the N7.1 billion “formed part of the funds illegally derived from the treasury of the Abia State Government and which was converted into several bank drafts before they were paid into the said company’s account.”
The prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, said the Kalu violated Section 17(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004, and was liable to be punished under Section 16 of the same Act and breached Section 427 of the Criminal Code Act, Cap 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990..
Penpushing reports that, during the trial which lasted for twelve years the prosecution called 19 witnesses while the defendants testified on behalf of themselves., and apart from the N7.1bn, which he was accused of laundering, Kalu and the other defendants were also accused of receiving a total of N460 million allegedly stolen from the Abia State Government treasury b
The Court found the former Governor guilty of all the 39-count charge filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) and the judge, Justice Muhhammed Idris in his judgement sentenced the former Governor to 12 years in prison on Thursday.
