Senator Orji Uzor Kalu
THE Supreme Court has nullified the judgment which convicted the former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu alongside Ude Udeogu, a former Director of Finance & Account at the Abia State Government House over abuse of office, diverting and embezzling N7.65b from Abia’s treasury, among others.
A seven-man panel of the apex court led by Justice Amina Augie on Friday gave the judgment and while setting aside the judgment, however ordered a retrial of the matter over inconsistencies on jurisdiction of the trial judge on the case of corruption allegations levelled against them by the Federal Government.
Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court in Lagos had sentenced Senator Kalu to 12 years imprisonment in his judgement delivered on April 24, 2019 while Mr Udeogu to 10 years imprisonment on the same day.
Displeased with the judgment of the Federal High Court, Kalu and Udeogu filed an appeal to challenge their sentencing at the Supreme Court.
The apex court, in a unanimous verdict on the appeal delivered by Justice Ejembi Eko, declared that the conviction of the appellants was null and void.
In the judgment, the apex court held that conviction of Kalu was void as the trial judge, Mohammed Liman, lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case.
Kalu stood trial on a 39-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The senator, Slok Nigeria Limited, and Udeh Udeogu, a former director of finance and accounts in Abia were accused of diverting N7.65 billion from the purse of the state government.