I can’t wait to join my colleagues in senate –Orji Kalu
The Supreme Court
had on Friday upturned his conviction for alleged fraud and ordered a retrial.
Former Abia State
governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, whose conviction was nullified by the Supreme Court
on Friday, has said that he can’t wait to rejoin his colleagues in the Senate
after spending the last five months in prison.
The Supreme Court
had on Friday upturned his conviction for alleged fraud and ordered a retrial.
Justice Mohammed
Idris had in December 2019 sentenced the ex-governor to 12 years imprisonment
for the fraud he allegedly perpetrated during his tenure as Abia State
governor.
But in a unanimous
judgment of the Supreme Court led by Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour on Friday,
the apex court nullified the entire trial on the grounds that the constitution
does not permit a judge elevated to a higher court to return to a lower court
to conclude a part-heard case.
In a statement, the
former Abia State governor said his stay in prison had taught him invaluable
lessons about the country’s justice system.
He said, “Today, the
Supreme Court of Nigeria gave a judgment in my favour, quashing the conviction
which the lower court had entered against me. By today's judgment, the Apex
court of our dear country affirmed my right to fair hearing and equal
protection of the law.
“The past five
months have been quite a profound period for me. As challenging as that period
has been, it has provided me an opportunity to learn invaluable lessons about
our country, our peoples, our justice system and the true meaning of love. I
mean love for family, love for our country and love for humanity.
“Events of the past
five months gave me an added perspective on matters of justice and injustice in
Nigeria. I look forward to rejoining my colleagues in the Senate as soon as
possible.”
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