Former governor of Abia state, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, was this morning formally charged before an Abuja High court on a 107-count charge of corrupt enrichment and money laundering. Appearing before Justice Binta Murtala Nyako this morning, the EFCC accused Kalu of transfering billions of Naira belonging to the Abia state government to SLOK Airline over a period of time.

According to the charge, Kalu transferred money belonging to the Abia state government account in the defunct Manny Bank( now part of Fidelity Bank) to the SLOK Airline account at Inland Bank.

The former Abia governor was also alleged to have at various times between 1999 and 2007 transferred huge sums of government money into SLOK Investment, SLOK Nigeria Limited, SLOK Incorporated and other companies owned by him.

The 107 counts were still being read to Kalu, who was listening to them in the dock, as at the time of filing this report.

Also this morning, the Federal High Court in Abuja ordered former governor Joshua Dariye to remain in EFCC custody till Thursday 19 July to enable the prosecution counsel file a response to his bail application.

The former Plateau State governor who was decked in a suit was not allowed to respond to journalists’ question outside the court room as the EFCC operatives drove him off immediately he came out.

Dariye is being prosecuted on a fourteen count charge of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment. Dariye arrived in court, in company of former PDP Chairman, Chief Solomon Lar. Lar also declined requests for comments on the case.

Justice Babs Kwewunmi directed that Dariye should be kept in the EFCC custody while adjourning hearing in his bail application till Thursday 19 July.

Dariye’s counsel, Conrad Joseph SAN who filed the bail application, expressed disappointment that his client was not granted bail.

Also today, former governor Saminu Turaki of Jigawa State was denied bail by an Abuja Federal High court hearing the graft case filed against him.

Justice Binta Nyako adjourned hearing in Turaki’s bail application till 23 July. She also ordered that the former governor should be detained in Kuje Prisons till the next adjourned date.

Turaki’s counsel, Olajide Ayodele SAN also expressed his disappointment at the turn of event but expressed determination to secure freedom for his client.

Meanwhile, P.M.News gathered that the former Enugu state governor, Chimaraoke Nnamani is being detained at the VIP male ward 2 of the National Hospital, Abuja by EFCC operatives who have taken over security at the hospital.

P.M.News learnt that this was the same ward where the former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Tafa Balogun, spent his entire prison term of six months when he was convicted of corruption.