Kalu hails S’Court, says ‘I’ve learnt invaluable lessons’The Supreme Court on Friday nullified the trial and conviction of a former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, and others for N7.1bn fraud.
But no sooner was the judgment made public than the Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Prof. Itse Sagay, SAN, expressed his disapproval of the Supreme Court judgment.
Although, Kalu and Udeogu had, in 2018, applied to the then President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa , to issue a fiat to Justice Idris to enable him to conclude the trial, they turned around to challenge the constitutionality of the fiat after it was issued to Justice Idris and the trial had made further progress.
“The President of the Court of Appeal does not have the power to assign a case to the Federal High Court judge. Also, the Federal High Court Chief Judge cannot meddle in the internal affair of the Court of Appeal.” It ordered that the case be “remitted to Federal High Court to be reassigned by the chief judge to another judge of the court.”
But before Justice Idris could hear and rule on the no-case submission, he was elevated to the Court of Appeal bench in June 2018. The defendants later challenged the jurisdiction of the judge to hear the case, arguing that he was no longer a judge of the high court.Justice Idris dismissed both. He said, “I think this judgment is a great disservice to this country. It’s a great setback because it drags us back into the iniquity of cases that have no end without any good reason at all.
The senior lawyer also argued that justice should always take precedence over judicial interpretations.In his reaction, Falana recalled that the Section 396 of ACJA was introduced to stop rampant instances where criminal cases involving high profile personalities were stalled for a long period as a result of the elevation of the trial judge to a higher court.
“A couple of months ago, ex-Emir Lamido Sanusi’s ex parte application to secure his personal liberty from illegal banishment was assigned, heard and granted the day it was filed at the registry of the federal court. On that same day, the certified true copy of the court order was obtained, served and obeyed by the detaining authorities.”
Nigeria Latest News, Nigeria Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
N7.2bn alleged fraud: Abia stakeholders speak on nullification of Orji Kalu’s conviction by Supreme ...Political Stakeholders in Abia state have reacted to the Supreme Court\u2019s nullification of the conviction of a former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu. Also nullified was the judgement against his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and Jones Udeogu, a former Director of Finance and Account of Abia State Government. The apex court ordered their
Read more »
N7.2 Billion alleged fraud: APC reacts to Supreme Court verdict dismissing Senator Kalu’s convictionThe All Progressives Congress(APC) in Abia state, has reacted to the Supreme Court\u2019s nullification of conviction of a former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu. Also nullified was the judgement against his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and Jones Udeogu, a former Director of Finance and Account of Abia State Government. The apex court ordered
Read more »
UPDATED: N7.65b fraud: Supreme Court orders fresh trial of Orji Kalu, othersThe Supreme Court has set aside the December 5, 2019 judgement of the Federal High Court, Lagos in which former governor of Abia State...
Read more »
Supreme Court judgement restoration of truth, says Orji KaluSenator Orji Kalu has described the Supreme Court’s judgment, which nullified his conviction and 12-year imprisonment for alleged N7.1bn stolen from Abia State treasury as restoration of justice.
Read more »
BREAKING: Supreme Court Nullifies Orji Uzor Kalu’s ConvictionBREAKING: Supreme Court Nullifies Orji Uzor Kalu’s Conviction
Read more »
N7.2 Billion alleged fraud: APC reacts to Supreme Court verdict dismissing Senator Kalu’s convictionThe All Progressives Congress(APC) in Abia state, has reacted to the Supreme Court\u2019s nullification of conviction of a former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu. Also nullified was the judgement against his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and Jones Udeogu, a former Director of Finance and Account of Abia State Government. The apex court ordered
Read more »