Nine years after he was first charged, the trial of the former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu is now to commence on March 6, 2017.

The former Abia state governor is standing trial before Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, alongside two others on a 34-count charge of money laundering and fraud.

The defendants are alleged to have siphoned Abia state government funds totaling over 2.7 billion Naira while Kalu was governor.

The money was allegedly diverted into the account of Slok Nigeria Limited, a company, the EFCC claims is owned by Mr Kalu.

Counsel to the former governor, Awa Kalu (SAN) has told the court that his client is anxious to clear his name as his businesses have lost their credit lines because of the matter.