The Supreme court has annul the judgment that convicted Senator Oriji Uzor Kalu, Ude Udeogu and the former governor of Abia state.
Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, and Ude Udeogo were apprehended and jailed for diverting N7.6 billion belonging to the state government during their regime in office.
The Supreme Court set aside the judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal high court, Lagos which sentenced Ude Udeogu and Senator Oriji Uzor kalu to 10 and 12 years imprisonment respectively after finding him guilty of N7.1bn fraud charges levelled against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Displeased with the judgment of the Federal High Court, Kalu and Udeogu filed an appeal to challenge their sentencing at the Supreme Court.
The apex court, with one verdict on the appeal delivered by Justice Ejembi Eko, declared that the conviction of the appellants was null and void.
Justice Eko explained that the declaration was on the ground that Justice Mohammed Idris was already a Justice of the Court of Appeal, as at the time he delivered the judgment sentencing Kalu and Udeogu. He held that a Justice of the Court of Appeal cannot operate as a judge of the Federal High Court.
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.
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