The Supreme Court sitting in Abuja on Friday unanimously overturned the conviction of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu ( former governor of Abia state) and former Commissioner for Finance Ude Udeogu in the “N7. 65 billion” fraud.
Recall that Senator Kalu was convicted and sentenced to 12 years for allegedly defrauding the government of Abia State where he was a governor for 8 years using his company, Slok Nigeria Limited, along side Ude Udeogi who was earlier convicted and given prison sentence of 10 years as well.
However, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu in his suit challenged the jurisdiction of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court chaired by Justice Mohammed Idris who delivered the sentence. In Kalu’s Counsels argument, the Court of Appeal Judge who delivered the judgement at the Federal High Court convicting him lacked the power to do so.
Despite the objections raised by Senator kalu’s counsels , the appeal court judge proceeded with the case at the high Court and sentenced Senator Kalu.The supreme court in its judgment declared that the judgement of the court of appeal delivered is hereby set aside .
The court ruled that justice Idris having already being elevated to the appeal court lacked the power to sentence Kalu.
