Trial of Kalu: witness chronicles debit transactions from Abia Govt House account
Kalu
By Sandra Umeh
Lagos, April 23, 2018 (NAN) A prosecution witness, Chidi Chukwuka, on Monday told a Federal High Court, Lagos, that several cash and debit transactions were made from Abia Government House account while Orji Kalu was governor.
Chukwuka, a Deputy Director, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), gave evidence as PW17 for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in the ongoing fraud trial of Kalu.
The witness was also an investigator with the EFCC at the time.
EFCC had on Oct. 31, 2016, preferred a 34-count charge bordering on N3.2 billion fraud against Kalu and his former Commissioner for Finance, Ude Udeogo.
Also, charged is Kalu’s company, Slok Nigeria Ltd.
The accused persons had pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bails.
When trial resumed on Monday, the Prosecutor, Mr Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), continued examination of the witness who began his evidence at the last adjourned date.
Jacobs asked the witness: “what did you do during your investigations as regards Federal Allocations to Abia State during the period?
The witness replied: “As a routine, we write to the office of the Accountant General, which furnishes us with details of account from both the state and local governments.”
Led in evidence, the witness told the court that the second defendant had stated in the account opening document of Udes Nig. Ltd that he is a businessman, whereas, investigations revealed that he worked as Director of Finance in Abia State.
The witness told the court that on June 25, 2002, N12 million was paid into the Abia Government House account by one Obasi Chibuike.
He further said that on July 1, a draft of N15 million was issued, while on Aug. 15, there was a cash deposit of N15.2 million by the second defendant.
When asked by the prosecution to explain his findings on a particular transaction instrument before the court, the witness replied that there were cash transactions from the Abia Government House account, into Slok Nig. Ltd (third accused) said to be owned by Kalu.
The witness also told the court that a draft of N40 million was issued in favour of the then Inland Bank on the orders of the Abia Government House, Umuahia.
Justice Mohammed Idris adjourned continuation of trial until May 10 and May 11.
In the charge, the accused persons were alleged to have committed the offence between August 2001 and October 2005.
Kalu was alleged to have utilised his company to retain in the account of a First Inland Bank, now FCMB, the sum of N200 million.
The sum is alleged to have formed part of funds illegally derived from the coffers of the Abia State Government.
In one of the counts, his company (Slok Nig Ltd) and one Emeka Abone, who is said to be at large, were also alleged to have retained in the company’s account N200 million on behalf of the first accused.
In counts one to 10, the accused persons were alleged to have retained about N2.5 billion in different accounts, which funds were said to belong to the Abia State Government.
Cumulatively in all the counts, the accused persons were alleged to have diverted over N3.2 billion from the Abia State Government’s treasury during Kalu’s tenure as governor.
The offence contravened Sections 15(6), 16, and 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2005.
It also contravened the provisions of the Money Laundering Act of 1995 as amended by the amendment Act No. 9 of 2002 and Section 477 of the Criminal Code Act, Laws of the Federation, 1990. (NAN)
UNS/OFN/WOJ
Edited by Felix Nwadioha/Wale Ojetimi