BREAKING: ORJI UZOR KALU'S CORRUPTION CHARGES NULLIFIED
The Supreme court today has nullified the judgement which convicted Former Abia state governor Orji Uzor Kalu of corruption.
The Apex court also revoked the judgment which convicted Ude Udeogu, former Director of Finance and Accountant at the Abia State Government House.
Recall that a Federal High Court in Lagos presided by Justice Mohammed Idris had sentenced Kalu to 12 years imprisonment and Mr Udeogu to 10 years imprisonment on April 24, 2019.
Today’s judgement was delivered a year after Urji and Udeogu filed an appeal at the Apex court to challenge the Federal High Court’s sentence.
The 7-man panel unanimously agreed that the conviction of the appellants was null and avoid.
Justice Ejembo Eko, who delivered the ruling said the court’s decision was on the ground that Justice Mohammed Idris, as at when he delivered the judgement was already a Justice of the Court of Appeal. Therefore, he cannot operate as a judge of a Federal court.
The apex court subsequently ordered the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to reassign the case for trial.
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