The Federal High Court in Lagos on Tuesday ordered the
release of a former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, from prison.
Justice Mohammed Liman had fixed June 2 to hear a motion on
notice filed by Kalu seeking release from prison based on the pronouncement of
the Supreme Court in Udeogu’s appeal.
In his application through his counsel, Chief Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the former governor asked the court to order his release from the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Service, Kuje, Abuja, following the nullification of his conviction by the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court in a May 8, 2020 judgment nullified the
trial and conviction of Kalu and others on the grounds that the judge, who
handled the case lacked jurisdiction.
On December 5, 2019, Kalu was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment while Udeogu got a 10-year sentence.
On May 8, the Supreme Court nullified the trial of Kalu and
his co-convicts.
The apex court held that Mohammed Idris, the trial judge, who had been elevated to the Court of Appeal at the time of the case, ought not to have presided over the matter while he was an appellate court Judge.
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