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UPDATED: Court adjourns Orji Kalu’s arraignment as EFCC seeks transfer
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was to arraign Kalu, following a Supreme Court order that he and his co-defendants in fraud charge be retried, having quashed the 12-year jail sentence handed to them by a Federal High Court in Lagos.
When the matter was called, counsel to the EFCC, Mr Chile Okoronma, told the court that there was a preliminary matter that needed to be resolved before the former Abia governor could be arraigned.
According to Okoronma, the prosecution has written a letter to the Chief Judge of the court seeking a transfer of the matter to the Lagos division of the Court.
“Looking at the charge sheet, no element of any of the offenses took place in Abuja.
“We will be asking that the matter be adjourned “sine die” (indefinitely) while we await the response from the chief judge,” Okoronma submitted.
He held that proceeding with the matter in the Abuja division of the court would be an exercise in futility.
The trial judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo, however, refused to adjourn the matter indefinitely and insisted that counsel should take a specific date to return to court.
He subsequently adjourned the matter until June 7 for a report on whether it should be transferred to Lagos or not
“Having rejected an application for an adjournment sine die, I hereby make an order adjourning this matter until June 7,” the judge ruled.
Kalu was convicted by the Lagos Division of the Court on Dec. 5, 2019 and sentenced to 12 years in prison for N7. 65 billion fraud.
He was convicted for defrauding the government of Abia where he was a governor for 8 years using his company, Slok Nigeria Limited.However, the Supreme Court, in its judgement on May 8, 2020, quashed the conviction and ordered that the defendants be retried by the EFCC.
In a unanimous decision by a seven-man panel of justices, the Supreme Court, nullified the entire proceedings that led to Kalu’s conviction.
The apex court held the trial judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, was already elevated to the Court of Appeal, as at the time he sat and delivered judgement against Kalu and his co-defendants.
It noted that Justice Idris was no longer a judge of the Federal High Court as at Dec. 5, 2019, when the former governor and the other defendants were found guilty of charges against them.(NAN)
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BREAKING: Court Puts Off El-Rufai’s Bail Hearing, Sets New Date
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The Federal High Court in Kaduna on Tuesday adjourned the hearing of the bail application filed by former Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, till Wednesday.
The adjournment followed proceedings that took place under tight security, reflecting heightened public interest in the high-profile corruption trial.
Counsel for the ex-governor, Ukpong Akpan, confirmed the development shortly after the session but declined to give details.
“I’m sorry, I can’t talk now, we are in the middle of work. I have to go and file responses. The hearing of the bail application has been adjourned till tomorrow,” he said.
Shortly after the court rose, El-Rufai was escorted out of the premises by operatives of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission in a white Hilux vehicle.
Earlier, the former governor had returned to court amid heavy security for the continuation of proceedings on his bail request.
The security arrangement mirrored the situation during his arraignment last week when he was first docked before the court.
El-Rufai is standing trial before Justice Rilwan M. Aikawa on a 10-count charge bordering on alleged conversion and possession of public property as well as money laundering.
He was brought to court after spending over a month in detention, a development that has continued to draw widespread attention across the country.
The court had earlier fixed March 31, 2026, for the hearing of all pending applications, including the bail request.
However, the anti-graft agency had on March 27, 2026, released him on compassionate grounds following the death of his mother, Hajiya Ummar El-Rufai, in Cairo, Egypt.
In a related development, the former governor was earlier on Tuesday arraigned before a Kaduna State High Court sitting in Kawo on separate charges.
At the State High Court, he was docked alongside one Amadu Sule on allegations ranging from abuse of office and fraud to intent to commit fraud and conferring undue advantage.
The charges, also filed by the anti-corruption commission, are separate from those before the Federal High Court.
After the proceedings at the State High Court, the commission moved El-Rufai to the Federal High Court within the same premises for continuation of proceedings.
With the adjournment, the hearing of the bail application is expected to resume on Wednesday.
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Araraume Felicitates President Tinubu on his birthday. Hails his Reform Agenda and National Milestones
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Senator Ifeanyi Araraume has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the occasion of his birthday, praising the President’s leadership style and the series of reforms that have shaped the direction of the country since he assumed office.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Araraume described President Tinubu as “a courageous reformer whose decisions continue to redefine Nigeria’s economic and governance landscape.” He noted that the President’s first year in office has been marked by bold policy choices aimed at stabilizing the economy and laying the groundwork for long term national development.
Araraume highlighted the removal of the petrol subsidy as one of the most significant economic decisions in recent decades, saying it demonstrated the President’s willingness to confront long‑standing structural challenges. According to him, the policy, though demanding, has redirected national resources toward infrastructure, social investment, and other critical sectors.
He also commended the administration’s unification of the foreign exchange market, describing it as a major step toward restoring investor confidence and strengthening Nigeria’s global competitiveness. The senator noted that the reforms have attracted renewed interest from international partners and signaled a commitment to transparent economic management.
Beyond economic restructuring, Araraume pointed to ongoing infrastructure expansion as evidence of the administration’s focus on national development. He cited the acceleration of key road projects, renewed efforts to expand rail connectivity, and the push to improve power generation and distribution as initiatives that reflect the President’s long term vision for a more productive Nigeria.
The senator further acknowledged the government’s interventions in agriculture, including support for mechanization and targeted programs aimed at boosting food security. He said these efforts are essential to reducing dependence on imports and strengthening local production.
On the diplomatic front, Araraume praised President Tinubu’s engagements across Africa and beyond, noting his role in strengthening regional cooperation within ECOWAS and advancing Nigeria’s interests on the global stage.
“As we celebrate this milestone, it is important to recognize the resilience and determination with which President Tinubu has approached the task of nation building,” Araraume said. “His commitment to reforms, economic stability, and democratic governance continues to inspire confidence in Nigeria’s future.”
He wished the President good health, renewed strength, and continued wisdom as he leads the country through what he described as “a defining period in Nigeria’s history.”
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Araraume Salutes Tinubu’s Vision, Lists Key Achievements on Birthday
Senator Ifeanyi Araraume has congratulated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the occasion of his birthday, praising his leadership style and the series of reforms that have shaped the country’s direction since he assumed office.
In a statement issued on Saturday, Araraume described the President as “a courageous reformer whose decisions continue to redefine Nigeria’s economic and governance landscape.” He noted that Tinubu’s first year in office has been marked by bold policy choices aimed at stabilizing the economy and laying the groundwork for long-term national development.
Araraume highlighted the removal of the petrol subsidy as one of the most significant economic decisions in recent decades, saying it demonstrated the President’s willingness to confront long-standing structural challenges. According to him, the policy, though demanding, has redirected national resources toward infrastructure, social investment, and other critical sectors.
He also commended the administration’s unification of the foreign exchange market, describing it as a major step toward restoring investor confidence and strengthening Nigeria’s global competitiveness. The senator noted that the reforms have attracted renewed interest from international partners and signaled a commitment to transparent economic management.
Beyond economic restructuring, Araraume pointed to ongoing infrastructure expansion as evidence of the administration’s focus on national development. He cited the acceleration of key road projects, renewed efforts to expand rail connectivity, and the push to improve power generation and distribution as initiatives that reflect the President’s long-term vision for a more productive Nigeria.
The senator further acknowledged the government’s interventions in agriculture, including support for mechanization and targeted programmes aimed at boosting food security. He said these efforts are essential to reducing dependence on imports and strengthening local production.
On the diplomatic front, Araraume praised Tinubu’s engagements across Africa and beyond, noting his role in strengthening regional cooperation within ECOWAS and advancing Nigeria’s interests on the global stage.
“As we celebrate this milestone, it is important to recognise the resilience and determination with which President Tinubu has approached the task of nation-building,” Araraume said. “His commitment to reforms, economic stability, and democratic governance continues to inspire confidence in Nigeria’s future.”
He wished the President good health, renewed strength, and continued wisdom as he leads the country through what he described as “a defining period in Nigeria’s history.”
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