Admin l Monday, March 05, 2018
IKOYI, Lagos, Nigeria – A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos was today informed about how several millions were diverted from the coffers of Abia State Government through bank drafts into the personal accounts of former governor of the state, Mr. Orji Uzor Kalu. Leading the revelation was a compliant officer with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Olusegun Adesomoju who told the court that millions of Naira were paid into the account of Slok Holdings Nigeria Limited, a company belonging to the former Governor of Abia State, Mr. Orji Uzor Kalu, while he was the governor of the state.
Kalu, his company, Slok Nigeria Limited and one of his Director of Finance and Accounts, Udeh Jones Udeogu are standing trial before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court over N2.9 billion fraud.
They were accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for conspiring to siphon N2.9bn from the account of the Abia State Government House but they all pleaded not guilty.
At the Monday’s proceedings, Adesomoju, who was led-in-evidence by the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), narrated to court how several millions were paid through bank drafts into Sloks Nigeria Limited’s account domiciled in Apapa branch of First inland Bank, between 2001 to 2005.
According to him, between August 16 till December 6, a total sum of N110 million were paid in tranches of N20 million, N13 million, N17 million, and N40 million. He also narrated before the court how N200 million, N550 million, N157 million, and N134 million, were also paid in tranches between 2002 to 2005, into the account of Slok Nigeria limited, through bank drafts.
The matter has been adjourned till Tuesday for the defence to cross-examine the witness, and continuation of trial.
