Michael Ojo l Wednesday, April 18, 2018
IKOYI, Lagos – A Deputy Director in the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Mr. Chidi Chukwuka on Tuesday tendered documents indicating that funds were diverted during the tenure of Mr. Orji Uzor Kalu as Governor of Abia State to Slok Holdings.
Led in evidence by counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Rotimi Jacobs SAN , the witness said funds were moved from the Joint account and major account of Abia State Government account domiciled in UBA and then to Slok Holdings Nigeria Limited a company lnked to the embattled former Governor of Abia State Orji Uzor Kalu.
The amount moved without being accounted for are: N120,000,000; N17,625,000; N4,660,000 and N7,000,000. According to the document presented, the cheques used to withdraw the aforementioned sums were in the name of the Chief of Staff of Abia State during the Kalu’s administration , Theodore Orji. The investigation carried out indicated that the account was opened in 1999 by Orji Uzor Kalu while he was still the Governor of Abia State.
Chukwuka also said that he handled the petition from Abia Leaders Forum in 2006 which was led to the Masters of Operation of this case. He said that the petition alleged misappropriation of Government funds by the Governor, the properties the Governor was holding in Nigeria, the governor tampered with Ecological funds, the $700,000 (valued in 2018 as $1,289,000) property obtained in Maryland, USA through public fund, the Governor being an executive member of a company among other issues.
However Jacob sought for an adjourment to enable him sstify some documents which would be tendered through the witness but not satisfied. Counsel to the first and second defendants professor Awal Kalu SAN and K.C Nwofo SAN did not oppossed to the adjournment provided the prosecution will undertake that this will be the last one.
Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned the case to 24th April, 2018 for the witness to furnished the court with more substantial document.
