The 12-year jail term slammed on the former Governor of Abia state, Orju Uzor-Kalu has been reversed this morning by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
The apex court held in an unanimous decision by a seven-man panel of Justices led by Justice Amina Augie 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.
According to the apex court, the trial Justice Mohammed Liman was no longer a judge of the Federal High Court as at the time he sat and delivered the judgement that convicted the defendants for allegedly stealing about N7.1billion from Abia state treasury.
The Supreme Court, Justice Liman, having been elevated to the Court of Appeal before then, lacked the powers to return to sit as a High Court Judge.
According to the judgement, the Fiat that was issued to him by the Court of Appeal President pursuant to section 396 (7) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act was unconstitutional.
The judges then vacated the judgement that convicted the defendants and ordered a fresh trial of the defendants.
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