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Tag: Orji Kalu

  • Jonathan@ 64: Former president’s attributes worthy of emulation, says Orji Kalu

    Jonathan@ 64: Former president’s attributes worthy of emulation, says Orji Kalu

    The Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Orji Kalu, has congratulated former President of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan on the occasion of his 64th birthday anniversary.

    Kalu, in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja, acknowledged the contributions of the former president to the sustenance of democracy in Nigeria and beyond.

    While noting that Jonathan is a strong advocate of peace and unity, Kalu stressed that the former president having served the nation meritoriously in various capacities, carved a niche for himself in all facets of life.

    The senate chief whip prayed for longer life for the celebrant in the service of humanity.

    According to him, I felicitate with former President Goodluck Jonathan as he clocks 64.

    “The former president has contributed immensely to the social, economic and political development of Nigeria, having served in various capacities in the public sector.

    “The celebrant is committed to the growth and sustenance of Nigeria’s democracy.

    “He is a selfless and patriotic statesman with passion for a prosperous, united and indivisible Nigeria.

    “The former president’s personal attributes are worthy of commendation and emulation,” Kalu said.

    He wished former President Jonathan a joyous birthday celebration.

  • Alleged N7.1bn fraud: EFCC to appeal court ruling stopping Orji Kalu’s retrial

    Alleged N7.1bn fraud: EFCC to appeal court ruling stopping Orji Kalu’s retrial

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it will appeal the ruling by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court stopping the Commission from retrying a former governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.

    Kalu was serving a 12-year jail term for N7.1 billion fraud when the Supreme Court, ruling on an appeal by his co-defendant, Ude Udeogu, on 8 May 2020, nullified the proceedings leading to their conviction.

    The Supreme Court had ordered a retrial at the Federal High Court.

    But Kalu who profited from the ruling to secure release from the Kuje Correctional Centre, filed an application before the Federal High Court in Abuja to stop his retrial.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Justice Ekwo granted the ex-governor’s request on Wednesday on the grounds that the apex court’s judgment did not order his retrial and that by virtue of Section 36 (9) of the 1999 constitution as amended, or Section 283 (2) of the ACJA (Administration of Criminal Justice Act), “no person can be retried on the offence upon which he has been convicted”.

    The EFCC in a statement by its Head of Media and Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, however, believes the judge erred in this ruling as it says Section 36(9) of the 1999 Constitution is applicable only where the previous judgment was by a court of competent jurisdiction.

    In this case, the apex court had in the said judgment, described the process that led to the conviction of Kalu as a nullity because the judge came from the Court of Appeal to decide the matter.

    The Commission further averred that the court erred in its ruling that the Supreme Court did not order the retrial of Kalu; that it amounts to cherry-picking for Kalu to profit from the decision of the apex court nullifying the conviction of his co-defendant, Ude Udeagu but is not prepared to face the burden of retrial.

  • Alleged N7.1b fraud: Court fixes date for Uzor Kalu’s retrial

    Alleged N7.1b fraud: Court fixes date for Uzor Kalu’s retrial

    The Federal High Court, Abuja on Wednesday fixed July 2 for adoption of all processes filed by parties in a suit by former Abia State governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, seeking to stop his retrial.

    The court had in February granted Kalu leave to challenge the legality of the retrial.

    At the resumed hearing on Wednesday, his counsel, Professor Awa Kalu, SAN, told the court that the respondents had served on him their counter affidavits.

    Responding, counsel to the 1st respondent (EFCC), Oluwaleke Atolagbe, the second respondent, Mr George Ukaegbu, and the third respondent, Mr K.C Nwufor, all admitted having filed and exchanged processes.

    In a short ruling, the judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, said since all parties had “joined issues”, the court had taken over control of the case.

    Ekwo adjourned the matter until July 2 for adoption.

    Kalu, a serving senator representing Abia North, is seeking an order of the court prohibiting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission from retrying him on the same alleged N7.1 billion money laundering charge against him.

    He contended that having been tried once by the EFCC, convicted and sentenced in the same charge, FHC/ABJ/CR/56/ 2007, it would amount to double jeopardy for him to be subjected to a fresh trial on the same charge.

    The former governor had also applied for an order prohibiting the EFCC from retrying, harassing and intimidating him with respect to the said charge or any other charge based on same facts as he needs not suffer double jeopardy.

    Kalu was earlier found guilty and handed a 12-year jail term by the Lagos Division of the court.

    The trial court convicted the former governor alongside his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited, and a former Director of Finance in Abia State, Jones Udeogu, for alleged pilfering of N7.1 billion from the state treasury.

    However, the Supreme Court, in its judgement on May 8 quashed the conviction and ordered a retrial of the defendants by the EFCC.

    In a unanimous decision by a seven-member panel of Justices, the Supreme Court, nullified the entire proceedings that led to Kalu’s conviction, stressing that the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, was already elevated to the Court of Appeal as at the time he sat and delivered a judgement against the defendants.

    It noted that Justice Idris was no longer a judge of the Federal High Court as at December 5, 2019, the day the former governor and his co-defendants were found guilty of the money laundering charge against them.

    According to the Supreme Court, Justice Idris, having been elevated to the Court of Appeal before then, lacked the powers to return to sit as a High Court Judge.

  • 2023: Orji Kalu dismisses prophetic utterances, says ‘I don’t want to be president but can take the offer’

    2023: Orji Kalu dismisses prophetic utterances, says ‘I don’t want to be president but can take the offer’

    Senator Orji Kalu has said he is not nurturing a 2023 presidential ambition but will not hesitate if considered for the number one public office in the country.

    “I am not having that kind of ambition. But if I am given, why not? I can take it.” the former Abia State governor said on Sunday in a monitored interview on Channels Television.

    There have been prophecies from some clergymen that the 61-year-old will be Nigeria’s next president, but Kalu who dismissed them citing his religious beliefs, admitted that he is capable of leading the nation.

    “I am a Catholic. In the Catholic church, we don’t see visions. Well, if visions are being seen, and people say this and that, if it is the will of God that I will become president, why not? I am very capable mentally and otherwise to do whatever Nigerian people want me to do but not through prophecy,” the lawmaker noted.

    And as the country prepares for the next presidential election in 2023 with calls for the seat to be zoned to the Southeast, the former Abia State leader has restated that it is the turn of the region to be in Aso Rock.

    “I believe if Nigerians and the Nigerian people want to be fair, a Southeast president from Igbo extraction will be the next thing to do,” he explained.

    Senator Kalu who also condemned the recent attack on Imo Governor, Hope Uzodinma’s house, described the incident as barbaric, lamenting the increasing spate of insecurity in Nigeria.

    “I tried to speak to the governor this morning. I sent him a text to tell him that I stand by him because this is very barbaric,” he stated while not ruling out the possibility that the attack was masterminded by politicians. “Whoever did that is very barbaric and is not an act the country should take likely.”

  • Attempts to sabotage Buhari’s government on the rise – Orji Kalu

    Attempts to sabotage Buhari’s government on the rise – Orji Kalu

    The Senate Minority Leader and senator representing Abia North in the National Assembly, Orji Uzor Kalu, has raised an alarm over an attempt at sabotaging the presidency of Muhammadu Buhari.

    The lawmaker revealed this on Monday on a monitored Channels Television programme.

    Kalu, who was also ex-governor of Abia State, called on the Federal Government to collaborate more with governors in nipping in the bud the various security challenges in the country.

    “Anywhere you have no police to police the society, it means the society is failed because the major job of a government is to protect lives and properties of the citizens. Once that kind of aspect fails, we are in trouble,” he said.

    “I believe there is sabotage to the Presidency of Muhammadu Buhari. A lot of sabotage, things are on duty to sabotage him, the society.

    “The Federal Government should cooperate with the state governments. We have done well as a party in many areas but security is key and we need to address this issue, come together.”

    On the way forward, he asked President Buhari to tackle the numerous security challenges in the country to convey a security summit with the service chiefs, governors, selected ex-governors and former military personnel.

  • Arrest killers of Sen. Suswam’s brother, Orji Kalu tasks Police

    Arrest killers of Sen. Suswam’s brother, Orji Kalu tasks Police

    The Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Orji Kalu has condoled with former Governor of Benue, Sen. Gabriel Suswam, who lost his elder brother, Chief Terkura Suswam.

    Kalu, in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja, decried the unfortunate incident and urged security agencies to investigate circumstances that led to his death.

    The Police Command in Benue on Wednesday confirmed the killing of Terkula Suswam, an elder brother of Sen. Gabriel Suswam by gunmen at Anyiin on Tuesday evening.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the confirmation was contained in a statement issued by the command’s Public Relations Officer, DCP Catherine Anene on Wednesday in Makurdi.

    While urging the police to bring the perpetrators to book, Kalu urged the Suswam family to take solace in the fact that the deceased would be remembered for his good deeds.According to him, “I received with shock and pain the news of the demise of your elder brother, Chief Terkura Suswam.

    “The deceased was known to be calm, gentle, easy-going and peace-loving.

    “The worthy legacies he left behind will continue to speak for him.

    “It is my prayer that God will give the Suswam family the fortitude to bear the sad loss and grant the deceased eternal bliss,’’ Kalu said.

  • Alleged N1.7bn fraud: Court places re-arraignment of Orji Kalu on hold

    Alleged N1.7bn fraud: Court places re-arraignment of Orji Kalu on hold

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the re-arraignment of former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu in an alleged seven point one billion naira (N7.1bn) money-laundering charges be put on hold pending the resolution of the legality of the retrial charges brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Justice Inyang Ekwo in a ruling on an ex-parte application also granted leave to the Senator representing Abia north, to challenge the legality of the retrial in the same charges.

    The judge admitted that Senator Kalu who is the Senate Chief Whip had placed sufficient materials of value before the court to enable him to secure permission for judicial review of his retrial in charges in which he had been tried, convicted, and spent some months at Kuje prison in Abuja.

    Justice Ekwo who announced that the order of the court shall operate as a stay of proceedings also granted senator Kalu permission to apply for an order of perpetual injunction against the federal government through EFCC to prohibit his retrial so as not to be made to suffer double jeopardy.

    The court consequently fixed February 23, 2021, for mention.

  • EFCC drags Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu to court afresh over alleged N7.1bn fraud

    EFCC drags Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu to court afresh over alleged N7.1bn fraud

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) will on Tuesday, arraign a former governor of Abia State and Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, before the Federal High Court in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    The ex-governor will be arraigned before Justice Inyang Ekwo on money laundering related charges.

    Senator Kalu, who governed Abia State from 1999 to 2007, was earlier found guilty and handed a 12-year jail term by the Lagos division of the court.

    The trial court convicted him alongside his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited, and a former director of finance in Abia State, Jones Udeogu, for allegedly diverting about N7.1billion from the state treasury to personal use.

    However, in a unanimous judgment by a seven-man panel of the Supreme Court, delivered on May 8th, 2020, the Apex Court nullified the entire proceedings that led to Senator Kalu’s conviction, stressing that the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, was already elevated to the court of appeal, as at the time he sat and delivered judgement against the defendants.

    It noted that Justice Idris was no longer a judge of the Federal High Court as of December 5, 2019, the day the former governor and his co-defendants were found guilty of the money laundering charge against them.

    The apex court ordered a retrial of the defendants.

  • 2023: TB Joshua clears air on alleged presidential prophesy for Orji Kalu

    2023: TB Joshua clears air on alleged presidential prophesy for Orji Kalu

    Popular televangelist and founder of Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN), Prophet TB Joshua has denied claims he ever said Orji Uzor Kalu would be Nigeria’s president by 2023.

    The cleric made this disclosure in a Twitter post describing such a story as ‘fake news.’

    TB Joshua said such claims are not from him and disclosed that he has been at a prayer mountain in a rural area in the past five days.

    Rumours made the round that Joshua said during a church service that President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor would be a former governor from the southern part of the country who was held in prison.

    “FAKE NEWS ALERT!

    “Please be informed that the story circulating titled “Orji Kalu is Nigeria’s Next President, says TB Joshua” is NOT from TB Joshua.

    “TB Joshua is not around; he is at the Prayer Mountain in a rural area for the past five days, He posted.

  • Photo News: Senate President, Ahmed Lawan leads senators to Orji Kalu’s house

    Photo News: Senate President, Ahmed Lawan leads senators to Orji Kalu’s house

    Sequel to his release from Kuje Prison on Wednesday night, Senator President Ahmad Lawan led other senators on a solidarity visit to the Chief Whip of the senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu on Thursday.

    Kalu, former governor of Abia, was jailed alongside Ude Jones Udeogu, a former director of finance and account of Abia state.

    They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on 36 counts of money laundering to the tune of N7.1 billion.

    They were found guilty and jailed in December. But Udeogu appealed the verdict of the court.

    Following his appeal, the Supreme Court on May 8, 2020, ordered that Udeogu should be released and the retrial of his case.

    However, Kalu who was not part of this appeal contended that no legal basis existed for his continued incarceration following the Supreme Court’s judgment which declared the whole trial a nullity and freed Udeogu.

    However, at Kalu’s residence on Thursday, all the senators wore face masks but did not observe social distancing when they posed for photographs.

    See more photos below: