Supreme court nullifies Orji Kalu’s conviction, orders retrial

The supreme court has nullified the conviction of Orji Kalu, former governor of Abia state. 

Kalu was convicted and jailed 12 years for money laundering by a federal high court in Lagos. His conviction was upheld by the appeal court.

But the apex court nullified his conviction on Friday and ordered a retrial of the accused and his co-defendants.

In the judgment of a panel of seven justices led by Amina Augie, the court held that the conviction of Kalu was void as the trial judge, Mohammed Liman, lacked the jurisdiction to hear the case.

It said Liman, who heard the case, was elevated to the appeal court at the time of the matter and was no longer a judge of the federal high court, and as such lacked the authority to preside over the trial.

In December, 2019, the judge sentenced Kalu to 12 years in prison for money laundering to the tune of N7.1 billion.

The judge also ordered that Kalu’s company, Slok Nigeria Limited, be liquidated and its assets forfeited to the federal government.

Kalu stood trial on a 39-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The senator, Slok Nigeria Limited, and Udeh Udeogu, a former director of finance and accounts in Abia were accused of diverting N7.65 billion from the purse of the state government.

He was also accused of illegally taking N460 million from Abia’s treasury.