By Osahon Osahon
Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, has prohibited the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), from retrying Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
The Judge gave the order while delivering judgment on an application filed by the former Governor of Abia State, seeking an order of court prohibiting the anti graft agency from retrying him on a charge for which he had already been tried and convicted.
Orji Uzor Kalu who is the Chief Whip of Nigeria’s Senate, had earlier been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment by a Federal High Court, after a 12-year long trial.
He however appealed his conviction to the country’s apex court.
The Supreme Court in its judgment, while not exonorating the appellant’s corrupt charges, however quashed his sentence on the basis that the Judge who handed down the sentence to him was no longer competent to preside over his case, having being elevated to the Court of Appeal.
The EFCC however dragged the former Governor back to Court for a retrial.
Delivering judgment in Orji Uzor Kalu’s application, Justice Ekwo, stated that the Supreme Court did not ask for a retrial of Orji.
“An order is hereby made prohibiting the Federal Government through the EFCC from retrying the applicant (Kalu) on charge no. FHC/ABJ/CR/56/2007, since there was no order in the judgment of the Supreme Court for the retrial of Kalu”, the Judge said.
