The Supreme Court, on Friday eventually cut the claws of the judgement that convicted and sentenced the former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor-Kalu, to 12 years imprisonment in December 2019.
The former governor was charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the mismanagement of funds belonging to the state as he was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment for seven (7) billion naira fraud during his administration as a governor in the state.
The Supreme Court, however, in a congenial decision by a seven-man panel of Justices led by Justice Amina Augie, held that the Federal High Court in Lagos acted without due jurisdiction when it convicted Kalu, his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and former Director of Finance in Abia State, Jones Udeogu.
It held that Mohammed Liman, who sat as the trial justice 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 billion from Abia state treasury.
The Supreme Court Court disclosed that, Justice Liman, having been promoted to the Court of Appeal before then, lacked the endorsed dexterity to return to sit as a High Court Judge.
It held that 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. And as a result, the apex court voided the judgement that convicted the defendants and ordered a new trial of the defendants.
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