The nation’s apex court, the Supreme Court, Friday quashed the judgement that sent to jail for 12 years former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu
In a unanimous ruling by seven man panel of Justices led by Justice Amina Augie, they held that the Federal High Court in Lagos acted without jurisdiction when it convicted Kalu, his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and it’s former Director of Finance, Jones Udeogu.
It held that 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 N7.1 billion from Abia State treasury.
According to 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.
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
Consequently, the apex court vacated the judgement that convicted the defendants and ordered fresh trial of the defendants.
