A Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered that the re-arraignment of former Abia State Governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu over an alleged N7.1bn money-laundering charge be put on hold pending the resolution of a suit over the legality of his retrial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Inyang Ekwo in a ruling on an ex-parte application also granted leave to the senator representing Abia North, to challenge the legality of the retrial on the same charges.

The judge admitted that Senator Kalu who is the Senate Chief Whip had placed sufficient materials of value before the court to enable him to secure permission for judicial review of his retrial on charges for which he had been tried, convicted and spent some months at Kuje Prison in Abuja.

Justice Ekwo also granted Senator Kalu permission to apply for an order of perpetual injunction against the Federal government through the EFCC to prohibit his retrial so as not to be made to suffer double jeopardy. The court consequently fixed February 23, 2021 for the mention of the case.