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A federal high
court in Abuja will, today, hear an application by sureties for the
former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, who are asking the court
to discharge them because they no longer have confidence in him. Uche
Chukwumerije, a senator and a traditional ruler, Eze Gaius Ihejiamaizu,
citing a lack of confidence in Orji, approached the court to vacate
their pledges over Mr Orji.

Mr Ihajiamaize, in
an affidavit, said: “…Sometime in July 2007, I stood as surety to the
first accused person [Orji Uzor Kalu] in this charge. That part of the
bail condition included the deposit of my certificate of recognition as
a traditional ruler [Eze] in Abia State issued on November 16th 1998 by
the State Government. That I entered as surety to the accused person
because of the confidence I had in him then. I no longer have
confidence in the 1st accused person and will not stand as surety for
him anymore. That for now the 1st accused and myself have not been
associating with each other and I can no longer vouch for him, being
unaware of his movements and actions. That it would be in the interest
of justice to discharge me as a surety to the 1st accused person and
return my said certificate of recognition to me.”

Law abiding

The court presided
over by Adamu Bello will today decide whether to discharge the surety.
Mr Ihajimaize’s counsel, Anthony Agbazure, told newsmen in Abuja that
his client showed that he was a law abiding citizen by going to the
court to say he no longer has confidence on the former governor and
should be discharged from the burden of being his surety.

“If the man elopes, my client would not be held liable,” he said.

The EFCC had slamed a 107-count charge of money-laundering against
Mr Kalu, including mismanaging over N5billion belonging to the Abia
State government. Two other accused persons standing trial alongside Mr
Kalu including Ude Jones Udeogu and Slok Nigeria Limited.