The ex-governor is alleged to have, amongst other offences, while he was the Governor of Abia State in 2003, procured Slok Nigeria Limited to retain its account domiciled with a commercial bank in the sum of 200 million Naira and that the sum formed part of the funds illegally derived from the treasury of Abia State government through another commercial bank.
However,his trial was stalled by Justice Anuli Chickere who said she could not go on with the case when an aspect of the matter was still pending at the Supreme Court. Justice Chikere adjourned the case to June 30.
One of the parties charged in the case, Slok Airlines, which also belongs to Mr Kalu, has an appeal pending at the apex court.
During proceedings, counsel to Slok Nigeria Limited, Mr Solomon Akuma, drew the attention of the court to the pending appeal by his client, Slok Nigeria Limited, before the Supreme Court which had not been heard.
Mr Kalu’s trial is coming more than eight years after he was first arraigned for misappropriation of state’s funds.
It should be recalled that Supreme Court on March 18 gave the EFCC a ‘go-ahead’ to prosecute the former Governor.
The charge predicated on alleged complicity of the former Governor in money laundering and illegal diversion of public funds of about 5.6 billion Naira.
Mr Kalu was alleged to have perpetuated the fraud between 1999 and 2007 while he was the Governor of Abia State.
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