The Supreme Court, on Friday 8th May 2020, void the judgment that convicted and sentenced the former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor-Kalu, to 12 years imprisonment on Thursday 5th December 2019.
The apex court, in a unanimous decision 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 judgment that convicted the defendants for allegedly stealing about N7.1billion from Abia State treasury.
Consequently, the Apex Court vacated the judgment that convicted the defendants and ordered the Chief Judge of the Federal high court to reassign the case for a fresh trial.
Olaoluwa Adekunle
