The Supreme Court has nullified the judgment which convicted
former Abia state governor and serving senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, and Ude Udeogo,
the former Director of Finance and Accounts during Kalu's administration.
Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, and Ude Udeogo were arrested and
jailed for diverting N7.6 billion belonging to the state government during
their time in office.
Justice Idris Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court in
Lagos on December 12, 2019, sentenced Kalu to 12 years imprisonment after
finding him guilty of N7.1bn fraud charges levelled against him by the Economic
and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. Udeogo was also sentenced to 10 years.
Displeased with the judgement 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 by a seven-man panel
of Justices led by Justice Amina Augie, held that the Federal High Court in
Lagos acted without jurisdiction when it convicted Kalu, his firm, Slok Nigeria
Limited and former Director of Finance in Abia State, Jones Udeogu. It held
that trial Justice Mohammed 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 N7.1billion from Abia state treasury.
The apex court, therefore, ordered the Chief Judge of the
Federal High Court to reassign the case for trial.
Kalu served as the Governor of Abia State from May 29, 1999,
to May 29, 2007.
