A Federal High Court in Abuja has fixed April 20 for hearing in the suit by former governor of Abia State Senator Orji Kalu seeking to stop his retrial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on alleged money laundering charges.
The adjournment was predicated on the fact that the EFCC which is listed as the first defendant in the suit was not properly served with the originating summons.
At the resumed hearing of the suit, EFCC’s counsel Rotimi Jacobs drew the attention of the court to the fact that the originating summons was served on his chambers instead of the EFCC.
He told Justice Inyang Ekwo that he was yet to be briefed by the anti-graft agency as its counsel and it would amount to professional misconduct to accept processes on the matter.
Justice Ekwo directed the applicant to serve the EFCC within seven days.
The court had on February 8, 2021, granted leave to Kalu to challenge his retrial by the EFCC on the same charges upon which he was sentenced and convicted.
Justice Ekwo also ordered that the planned re-arraignment of Senator Kalu in the alleged N7.1billion money laundering charges be put on hold until the resolution of the legal questions raised against his retrial.
