The long delay in the trial of former Abia state governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, has prompted three socio-political groups in the state to petition President Buhari to make sure Uzor Kalu face trail.
Former Governor of Abia state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu
It would be recalled that in July 2007, the EFCC had arraigned Kalu on a 107 count charge of money laundering, official corruption and criminal diversion of public funds totaling over five billion.
The leaders of 3 groups, NdiAbia League, Abia Youths Consultative Forum, and Abia Peoples Congress, have co-signed a joint statement decrying the fact that the trial has been dragging on since 2007, the year Kalu left his office.
“It is shocking that the trial of the former governor of Abia state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, by the EFCC is still ongoing eight years after he left office,” the statement reads.
“Abians are disturbed by this ugly development. We wonder why up till now, the former governor’s prosecution has not been concluded. We hope the EFCC has not been compromised on the matter as it is being insinuated in some quarters.
“We are appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure that no corrupt person, no matter his status, escapes prosecution. The President should order the EFCC to expedite action on the trial of the former governor so that justice would be seen to be duly done.”
The representatives for the groups lauded President Buhari for his determination to fight corruption and urged him not to allow any agency of the government to stand between him and his anti-corruption war.