The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday disclosed how a former governor of Abia state, Orji Kalu allegedly used his company, Slok Nigeria Limited to diverted N3.2bn from the state treasury when he was the governor.
EFCC claimed the former governor alongside one Emeka Abone, who is said to be at large, allegedly committed the offence between August 2001 and October 2005.
The allegation was contained in the 34 count charges slammed on the former governor at a Federal High Court in Lagos during his re-arraignment.
EFCC had earlier re-arraigned Kalu alongside his company, Slok Nigeria Limited, his former Commissioner of Finance, Jones Ude for money laundering.
In the charges, the anti-graft agency also claimed that Kalu utilised his company to retain N200 million in the account of a First Inland Bank, now FCMB. The money is alleged to have formed part of funds illegally derived from the coffers of the Abia state government.
The accused were said to have utilised Manny Bank, now Fidelity Bank Plc, Spring Bank Plc, the defunct Standard Trust Bank and Finland Bank, now First City Monument Bank, FCMB.
In counts one to 10, the accused were alleged to have retained about N2.5 billion in different accounts, which funds were said to belong to the Abia state government.
The offence is said to have contravened the provisions of sections 15(6), 16, and 21 of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2005.
When the matter was called up, Kalu however pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Following his not guilty plea, Kalu’s lawyer, Mr. Mike Ozekhome SAN, prayed the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, to allow his client continue with an earlier bail condition.
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