The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has applied to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to transfer the case file of a former governor of Abia state, Chief Orji-Uzor Kalu to its Lagos Division.
EFCC asked the court to transfer the case file for the fresh trial of Chief Orji-Uzor Kalu and two others in an alleged 7.1 billion naira fraud.
The application seeking the transfer was brought under sections 18, 19, 22 and 45 of the federal high court act 2010 and section 93 of the administration of criminal justice act, 2015.
The Counsel to the EFCC, Mr Oluwaleke Atolagbe said the application was predicated on five grounds among which are; that the Abuja division of the Federal High Court lacked the requisite jurisdiction to entertain and try the defendants in the instant charge.
Also Read: Mompha Gets N2OOm Bail Over Money Laundering Allegations
The motion further indicated that after taking their plea, the defendant brought an application challenging the competence of the charge and contending that there was no prima facie case against them.
Following the decision of the Supreme Court that many of the ingredients of the offences against them occurred in Lagos and most of the witnesses who were bank workers resided in Lagos.
When the matter came up, the Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo said he would not be able to take the application given the approaching Easter holidays.
Justice Ekwo consequently adjourned until the 17th of May, this year, for determination of the application.
