By Ogochukwu Isioma
Former Governor of Abia State and Candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Abia North Senatorial District, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, says enemies of Nigeria are after him because of his political ambitions for 2023, Igbere TV reports.
Dr. Kalu stated this in his Camp Neya country home, Igbere, Bende local government area of the state while fielding questions from journalists.
He was reacting to the recent adjournment of a case involving him by a Federal High Court.
Igbere TV reports that a Federal High Court in Lagos had adjourned indefinitely the trial of the former governor and two others, who are being tried for N7.6 billion fraud by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Mohammed Idris, who is now a Justice of the Court of Appeal, took the decision to adjourn the case indefinitely because according to him, he was yet to be granted fiat by the President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa to continue with the trial.
Reacting, however, Dr. Kalu said he was not disturbed by the court’s decision to adjourn trial.
He dispelled the rumour that he has been avoiding trials, and insisted that he has never stolen from the treasury.
Dr. Kalu further noted that the court case is being influenced by perceived political enemies, who want to malign him over his 2023 political ambition.
He said: “I have so much respect for Justice Mohammed Idris because of the way he handles his court. I feel the court must be a place of justice. I don’t know why he adjourned my trial indefinitely, but as long as I am healthy I will go to court. I have never run away from trial. I am very prepared for trial.
“I’m very willing to take my trial; there’s no commissioner under my administration when I was the governor of the state who said I stole money. There are 19 witnesses and none of them have said I have stolen money.
“The case is politically motivated, it is all about 2023. But I am least worried about the distractions.
“It’s only Justice Idris that can explain why my trial was adjourned indefinitely. I have no right to judge him; there are other courts who will judge how correct his final decision will be on my trial.”
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