A former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu has been given seven days by the Federal High Court in Lagos to appear before it.
Kalu is facing a trial over an allegation of N7.65 billion fraud.
Justice Mohammed Idris who is a High Court Judge gave the order on Monday.
However, Kalu’s legal counsel, Professor Awa Kalu (SAN) told the Judge that the client was currently in Germany where he underwent a surgical operation.
He added that his German doctor had advised that the former governor remain bedridden until he recuperates.
The defence counsel also told Justice Idris that his prosecution counsel was aware of the medical situation, then pray that the case is further adjourned.
However, the EFCC lawyer argued that he was surprised that Kalu was absent from the court, adding that he was not aware when the ex-governor took permission to travel out of the country.
Jacobs went further to recall that Kalu had submitted his passport to the court as part of his bail conditions, adding that he must apply to the court whenever he wishes to travel out of the country.
He argued that Kalu’s absence from the court only displays an intention to frustrate the case. He urged the Justice to consider Kalu’s absence to mean that he had jumped bail.
But the defence counsel begged the court to set aside the argument by the EFCC lawyer, saying that Kalu left the country as the court adjourned the case sin die (indefinitely)
In his ruling, Justice Idris agreed that the case was adjourned sine die on September 27, 2018, but recalled that on November 2, Kalu was serviced with a hearing notice that the case had been scheduled for Monday.
The Judge also revealed that the court received a mail confirming Kalu’s medical situation and treatment arrangement, but queried the defence lawyer for failing to attach any medical report as a guide to Kalu’s post-surgery treatment.
Despite, Justice Idris said he would, in the interest of justice, adjourn the case one last time on the ground that the former governor must return from Germany within seven days to appear before the court.
The court, therefore, adjourned the case till November 12, 2018.
