The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), the leading sociopolitical youth organisation in the South East geopolitical zone, has voiced serious concerns regarding the leave granted by the Court of Appeal in Abuja, permitting the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to contest a Federal High Court ruling that barred it from retrying former Abia State Governor, His Excellency Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, over an alleged N7.1 billion fraud.
In a statement, the President General of COSEYL, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, asserted that “this leave granted by the court, and the subsequent actions taken by the EFCC, appear to be politically motivated.”
Comrade Ibem argued, “The attempt to retry Senator Kalu constitutes a violation of the Nigerian constitution and a direct affront to the principles of constitutional integrity.”
“The Federal High Court found insufficient evidence to support the charges against Senator Kalu, leading to his acquittal. This decision followed a rigorous legal process, and the ruling should have resolved the matter. However, the unexpected and abrupt retrial ordered by the Court of Appeal in Abuja raises serious questions about the underlying motivations for the leave it has granted.”
“Given the political context surrounding these charges and the possibility of a retrial, it is evident that the court’s actions are less about justice and more about advancing a wider political agenda.”
“The timing and circumstances of this retrial strongly suggest an attempt to undermine the credibility and legitimacy of our esteemed Igbo leader, who is wholly dedicated to the welfare of his people. This action seems to be more of a mechanism to target and discredit Igbo leaders, rather than a genuine effort to pursue accountability for alleged corruption.”
The youth organisation urged the EFCC to uphold the “principle of justice, free from political interference or influence. A retrial following an acquittal casts serious doubt on the fairness of the process and the integrity of our legal system.”
“Such actions threaten to erode public confidence in the legal and political frameworks of our country and could set a concerning precedent for politically motivated persecution.”
“We implore the EFCC to reconsider its approach and ensure that this case is handled in a manner that embodies the impartiality and fairness that our national institutions should represent. Justice must be pursued on the basis of facts and legal merit, not political interests or motivations.”
“We trust that the EFCC will take these concerns into account and act in the best interests of justice and national unity.”
“Therefore, we call on the EFCC not to allow itself to be manipulated by politicians for the political manoeuvrings and calculations of 2027.”
