Orji Kalu faces imminent arrest upon his return to Nigeria as court orders him to report to EFCC

FORMER Abia State governor Dr Orji Kalu faces imminent arrest whenever he sets foot in Nigeria after Justice Mohammed Idris of a the Lagos federal high court revoked his bail following his failure to appear in court for trial as scheduled.

Dr Kalu is currently facing corruption charges and earlier this month was due in court as his N7.65bn fraud trial continues but he was absent due to the fact that he is currently in Germany where he is said to have undergone surgery for an undisclosed ailment. His case had then been rescheduled for today and when Dr Orji refused to show up, Justice Idris revoked his bail.

On October 31 2016, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) initiated proceedings against Dr Kalu along with his former finance commissioner Ude Udeogo and a company, Slok Nigeria on charges of N7.2bn fraud. Dr Kalu himself is facing a 34-count charge bordering on N3.2bn fraud and having pleaded not guilty to the charges earlier on in the trial, he was granted bail.

At the last adjourned date on November 5, Dr Kalu lawyer had informed the court that he was away for medical treatment in Germany and Justice Idris subsequently gave him seven days to return to Nigeria and face the court. Having failed to do that, the judge revoked his bail and ordered that upon his return, Dr Kalu must submit himself to the EFCC, failing which an order will be made for his arrest.

Justice Idris said: “In the light of the entirety of this case and in the interest of justice, I am prepared to grant the first defendant a final adjournment in respect of this matter. I am constrained to revoke the bail granted to the first defendant, so he is, however, permitted to continue with his medical treatment abroad, unharrased by law enforcement agencies

“Upon his return to the country, he must at the point of entry, surrender his international passport and other relevant travelling document to the EFCC. He shall submit himself to the EFCC within 24 hours of his return, failing which he shall be rearrested and detained by the EFCC.

“Let me state that there is no doubt that the first defendant is entitled to and has a right to life, he has a right to seek medical treatment within and outside the shores of Nigeria, this right is further guaranteed by the African Charter on Human and People’s Right. In enjoying this right, the first defendant has a duty to follow due process of law but in this case, the first defendant acted outside the purview of the law and he is expected to be dealt with according to the law.

After his ruling, Justice Idris adjourned the case until December 3. Between August 2001 and October 2005, Dr Kalu is alleged to have utilised his company to retain in the account of a First Inland bank, now FCMB, the sum of N200m, said to have formed part of funds illegally derived from the coffers of the Abia State government.