Orji Uzor Kalu, the convicted former governor of Abia State may most likely walk free as the the apex court, the Supreme Court, today threw out the j
Orji Uzor Kalu, the convicted former governor of Abia State may most likely walk free as the the apex court, the Supreme Court, today threw out the judgement that convicted and sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment for embezzling N7.1 meant for the state while he was governor.
In a decision sanctioned by a seven man panel of Justices led by Justice Amina Augie, held that Justice Mohammed Liman of the Federal High Court in Lagos which convicted Orji Uzor Kalu did not act with jurisdiction when it convicted the former governor, his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited through which the monies were embezzled as well as a former director of Finance in Abia State, Jones Udeogu while Orji was still governor.
In addition, the panel of judges also say the judge which tried and convicted Kalu was no longer a judge of the Federal High Court as at the time he sat and delivered the judgement that convicted the defendants and therefore lacked the powers to sit as judge convict him having been elevated to the Court of appeal at the time of the judgement.
The panel of judges therefore vacated the judgement, ordering for a fresh trial of the defendants.
