Major cities in Abia State, including Aba, the commercial nerve center of the state, Umuahia, the state capital, Ohafia and Bende, yesterday, witnessed celebration and jubilation following the Federal High Court’s indefinite adjournment of the trial of ex-Abia State governor, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu.
Markets in Lagos, Abuja, and Kano, with a large concentration of Igbo, also witnessed the same responses yesterday.
Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, yesterday, adjourned the case instituted against Kalu by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sine die as the “special fiat” granted him by the president of the Court of Appeal to continue with the case, after his elevation to the appellate court, elapses this weekend.
Reacting to the development, traders and residents in Aba, Umuahia, Ohafia and Bende, among other cities in Abia State, as well as some parts of Lagos, Abuja and Kano, went into celebration believing this would give Kalu, who pleaded not guilty to the fraud charge by the EFCC, an opportunity to properly defend himself.
Our correspondents in Abia State observed that, as soon as news of the case’s adjournment filtered into town, joy engulfed residents. As part of the celebration, free drinks were declared in beer parlours and hotels.
A politician, Nazi Mark Orji, said when a court case is handled in haste, like the Kalu case, where “a judge who has been moved to the Court of Appeal wants to conclude the matter within a short time, there is bound to be mistaken.
So, the indefinite adjournment will give room for a thorough job so that an innocent man will not be punished.”
Also, Igbo traders in Lagos, Kano and Abuja went into celebration as soon as they heard about the development in Kalu’s case.
Our correspondents reported that, like in Abia State, some traders went into a drinking spree and offered drinks to anybody who cared.
One of the traders in ASPAMDA, Lagos, Emeka Nwankwo, who was seen making merry with a couple of other traders in the Ojo area, told our correspondent that the way the case was going, there was a need for God’s intervention.
“With this adjournment, God has intervened. I have wondered why there was so much hurry. How could a case where the accused have not been given ample time to defend themselves be rushed and concluded in less than one month? Since the judge has been promoted, let him go to the Court of Appeal so that a judge of the High Court would take over the matter,” he said.
Justice Idris adjourned the trials of Kalu and former Oyo State governor, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, indefinitely.
Ladoja is facing eight counts bordering on fraud, alongside his former Commissioner for Finance, Waheed Akanbi, while Kalu was docked alongside Udeh Jones Udeogu and Slok Nigeria Limited.
In Ladoja’s case, the EFCC had on September 11 closed its case against the defendants, after his last witness, Abubakar Madaki, an investigator, was cross-examined by the defense counsel, Bolaji Onilenla and Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika.
Upon the closure of the prosecution’s case, the defense counsel hinted that they would be filing applications for no-case submission on behalf of their clients.
And Justice Idris adjourned further proceedings in the case till September 27.
At the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, the prosecution, led by O.O. Olabisi informed the court of the pending amended charge and prayed for the leave of the court so that the new charge could be read to the defendants.
Ladoja’s counsel, Onilenla, opposed the application of the prosecution, urging the court not to grant the prayer. He noted that it would not be in the interested of justice if it was granted.
After listening to both parties, Justice Idris called the attention of the council to the issue of his fiat.
According to the court, “I believe both parties are aware that I am still hearing this matter because of the special fiat gave to me by the president of the Court of Appeal and the fiat will lapse at the end of this month and tomorrow (today ) is the last working day of this month; so, if I hear parties’ arguments on this issue of amended charge, I cannot deliver ruling with this limited time.
“I think it will be wise and be on the safer side to adjourn this case sine die (indefinitely). However, either prosecution or defense can re-apply for my fiat so that I can conclude this trial.”
Both the prosecution and the defense agreed with the court and the judge for adjournment of the trial indefinitely.
Similarly, in Kalu and others’ trial, the judge also made the same submission to the parties and they also agreed that the matter is adjourned indefinitely.
Justice Idris had on Wednesday fixed September 27 for Kalu and others to open their defense.
