By our reporter
Anxiety and uncertainty pervades the air as the EFCC announces plan for a fresh trial of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
Kalu was declared free by the Supreme Court on Friday after five months in prison, prompting him to issue a statement praising the Court’s decision.
But in a swift reaction, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) described the judgement as unfortunate, announcing that it will launch a fresh legal fire works against Kalu, a strong indication that the battle is on.
The anti-graft agency, in a statement by its spokesman, Dele Oyewale, on Friday, which was made available to theconscienceng described the judgment as “unfortunate” and announced that the agency was ready to commence a fresh trial immediately.
The statement read: “The attention of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to the judgment of the Supreme Court nullifying the trial of a former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and Jones Udeogu, a former Director of Finance and Account of Abia State Government and ordering their fresh trial at the lower court.
“The apex court based its verdict on the grounds that Justice Mohammed Idris, who convicted Kalu and others had been elevated to the Court of Appeal before the judgment and returned to the lower court to deliver the judgment which it considered as illegal.
“The EFCC considers the judgment of the apex court as quite unfortunate. It is a technical ambush against the trial of the former governor. The Commission is prepared for a fresh and immediate trial of the case because its evidences against Kalu and others are overwhelming.