The member representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency of Abia State, Hon. Uko Nkole has felicitated with the former governor of the State and the senator representing Abia North, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu on the nullification of his conviction by Supreme Court of Nigeria on Friday. ABN TV reports.
Hon. Nkole wrote: “Congratulations Distinguished Senator God’s mercy as I prayed in my last birthday wish to you on 21/04 /2020 has finally prevailed. God is kind” he said in a statement on Friday.
The apex court, in a unanimous decision on Friday by a seven-man panel of Justices led by Justice Amina Augie, held 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.
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It held that 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.
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.
