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Supreme Court nullifies Kalu’s 12 years jail term, orders fresh trial

Ezekiel Johnson
Ezekiel Johnson
9th Senate: 'I'm not a thief', Kalu declares at valedictory session
Orji Uzor Kalu

The Supreme Court has nullified the conviction of former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu.

On December 5, 2019, Kalu was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Lagos over alleged fraud of N7.1 billion.

Involved in the case too are Kalu’s firm, Slok Nigeria Limited, and former Director of Finance in Abia State, Jones Udeogu.

The Supreme Court, in its ruling over the case on Friday declared that Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court acted without jurisdiction when he gave the judgement.

Said Justice Amina Augie who led a seven-man panel of Justices:  “Liman was no longer a judge of the Federal High Court as at the time he sat and delivered the judgement that convicted the defendants for allegedly stealing about N7.1 billion from Abia State treasury, his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and former Director of Finance in Abia State, Jones Udeogu.”

The court declared that Liman, who had been elevated to the Court of Appeal before then, did not have the power to sit as a High Court judge.

It declared that the fiat that was issued to him by the Court of Appeal President pursuant to section 396(7) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act was unconstitutional.

The Supreme Court therefore nullified the judgement convicting Kalu and others and ordered that a fresh trial be conducted.

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