Former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, has lost his attempt to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from appealing a court ruling that halted his trial for alleged N7.1 billion money laundering.

On Friday, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal rejected Kalu’s objection to the federal government’s request for more time to appeal the judgment. The ruling, originally given by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on September 29, 2021, had stopped Kalu’s prosecution.

Kalu and his company, Slok Nigeria Limited, argued that the Court of Appeal had already ruled on the matter on March 6, 2024, and could no longer take further action. However, Justice Ishaq Sanni, who delivered the ruling, explained that the earlier decision was not based on the case’s merits. Instead, it was dismissed because the records submitted were not properly certified.

Since the federal government’s appeal time had already passed by March 6, 2024, the court ruled that it was right to seek an extension. Justice Sanni then granted the government 14 more days to file its appeal against the Federal High Court’s ruling.

This means the EFCC can now proceed with its case against Kalu and Slok Nigeria Limited. The legal battle over the alleged N7.1 billion fraud is far from over.