The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC on Thursday asked a Federal High Court in Abuja to move to its Lagos division, the fresh trial of former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu and two others in a supposed 7.1 billion naira fraud.

The motion on notification looking for the transfer was brought pursuant to areas 18, 19, 22 and 45 of the Federal High Court Act 2010 and area 93 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

The motion prayed for an order of the Federal High Court in Abuja, moving the case with charge number FHC/ABJ/CR/ 56/2007 in between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Orji Uzor Kalu and 2 others to the Lagos department of the court.

2 others on the motion paper are Jones Udeogo and Sloks Nigeria Limited, a supposed household company of Senator Kalu.

Oluwaleke Atolagbe, counsel to EFCC stated the motion was predicated on 5 grounds amongst which are that the Abuja division of the Federal High Court lacked the requisite territorial jurisdiction to captivate and try the offenders in the immediate charge.

Another ground for seeking transfer of the trial was that the charge was chosen against Orji Uzor Kalu, Slok Nigeria Limited and Ude Jones Udeogu at the Federal High Court Abuja at some point in number 2007 by the EFCC, following an investigation by the commission.

The movement further showed that after taking their plea, the offender brought an application challenging the skills of the charge and contending that there was no prima facie case against them.

It was likewise competed that following the decision of the Supreme Court that many of the active ingredients of the offences against them occurred in Lagos and even most of the witnesses who are bank employees reside in Lagos, the EFCC applied to the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to move the matter to Lagos.

Satisfied that much of the ingredients of the offenses took place in Lagos the Chief Judge transferred the case to the Lagos division of the court where the accuseds were prosecuted and judgment delivered in the matter.

He, therefore, asked Justice Ekwo to provide an order transferring the trial to Lagos in compliance with the Supreme Court order.

When the matter began Thursday, Justice Inyang Ekwo stated that he would not be able to take the application in view of the approaching Easter holidays.

The Judge as a result set May 17, 2022 for determination of the application.

At the proceedings, Prof. Awa Kalu SAN meant former guv Kalu, Mr Solo Akuma SAN meant Jones Udeogu while Goddy Uche SAN, stood for Slok Nigeria Limited.