Orji Kalu's Legal Battle: Appeal Denied, Government Gets Green Light

Orji Kalu Loses Appeal to Block Federal Government’s Legal Move

Let me tell you a story about Orji Uzor Kalu, the former governor of Abia State. On Friday, his efforts to stop the Federal Government from appealing a 2021 court decision came to a halt. The case in question involves an alleged ₦7.1 billion money laundering charge, and it’s been a long and winding road for both sides. Kalu, along with his company, Slok Nigeria Limited, tried to argue that the government’s appeal was out of bounds. But guess what? The Court of Appeal didn’t buy it.

What Happened in Court?

A panel of three judges at the Court of Appeal dismissed the objections Kalu and Slok raised. They were fighting against the Federal Government’s request—backed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)—to file an appeal, even though the standard timeline had passed. Kalu’s team argued that the Court of Appeal had already dismissed a previous appeal by the Federal Government on March 6, 2024, and therefore, they believed the court had no more say in the matter. But the judges didn’t see it that way.

Justice Ishaq Sanni, delivering the ruling, explained that the earlier dismissal wasn’t about the actual merits of the case. Instead, it was due to some technical glitches related to the certification of court records. He made it clear that the 2021 judgment was handed down after the three-month window for an appeal had closed. This meant the Federal Government had every right to ask for an extension. And that’s exactly what the court granted them.

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What’s Next for the Case?

The court’s decision opens the door for the Federal Government to move forward with its appeal. They’ve been given 14 days to file their notice of appeal against the September 29, 2021, judgment from the Federal High Court. This ruling impacts two specific cases: CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/430MI/2024 (FRN v. Orji Uzor Kalu & two others) and CA/ABJ/PRE/ROA/CV/431MI/2024 (FRN v. Slok Nigeria Limited & two others).

This is a significant development in the ongoing legal saga. The case has been under scrutiny for years, and this latest decision could pave the way for a resolution. The government is now armed with the opportunity to make its case, and we’ll have to wait and see how it all plays out.