Reason097
Orji Uzor Kalu
Former Abia State Governor Orji Uzor Kalu was convicted by the Federal High Court Lagos on 5 December 2019 on a 39-count N7.65bn fraud charge and sentenced to 12 years' imprisonment by Justice Mohammed Idris. The Supreme Court (Ejembi Eko JSC leading a seven-member panel under CJN Tanko Muhammad) set the conviction aside on 8 May 2020 on jurisdictional grounds — Justice Idris had been elevated to the Court of Appeal in June 2018 and lacked authority to deliver the December 2019 verdict; a retrial was ordered. On 29 September 2021 Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court Abuja barred the EFCC from retrying Kalu, holding that the apex court's retrial order named only co-defendant Ude Jones Udeogu. The Court of Appeal struck out the FG's challenge on 6 March 2024 on procedural defects; the EFCC subsequently obtained leave to refile, and the appeal remains pending. Kalu was re-elected to the Senate for Abia North on the APC ticket in 2023.
Sources
- SOURCE-01Channels TV (2019-12-05) - Court Finds Orji Uzor Kalu Guilty Of N7.65bn Fraud
- Channels TV (2019-12-05) - Court Finds Orji Uzor Kalu Guilty Of N7.65bn Fraudwww.channelstv.com/2019/12/05/breaking-court-finds-orji-uzor-kalu-guilty-of-n7-65bn-fraud/
- SOURCE-02Channels TV (2020-05-08) - Supreme Court Nullifies Orji Uzor Kalu's Conviction
- Channels TV (2020-05-08) - Supreme Court Nullifies Orji Uzor Kalu's Convictionwww.channelstv.com/2020/05/08/breaking-supreme-court-nullifies-orji-uzor-kalus-conviction/
- SOURCE-03Vanguard (2020-05) - Why Supreme Court freed ex-Gov Kalu, ordered fresh trial
- Vanguard (2020-05) - Why Supreme Court freed ex-Gov Kalu, ordered fresh trialwww.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/alleged-n7-1bn-fraud-why-supreme-court-freed-ex-gov-kalu-ordered-fresh-trial-of-case-2/
- SOURCE-04SaharaReporters (2019-12-05) - Court Sentences Orji Kalu To 12 Years Imprisonment Over N7.1bn Fraud
- SaharaReporters (2019-12-05) - Court Sentences Orji Kalu To 12 Years Imprisonment Over N7.1bn Fraudsaharareporters.com/2019/12/05/court-sentences-orji-kalu-12-years-imprisonment-over-n71bn-fraud
- SOURCE-05TheCable - EXPLAINER: What just happened in the supreme court in Orji Kalu's case
- TheCable - EXPLAINER: What just happened in the supreme court in Orji Kalu's casewww.thecable.ng/explainer-what-just-happened-in-the-supreme-court-on-orji-kalus-case/
- SOURCE-06Vanguard (2021-09-29) - Why court barred FG from retrying ex-Abia Gov, Uzor Kalu
- Vanguard (2021-09-29) - Why court barred FG from retrying ex-Abia Gov, Uzor Kaluwww.vanguardngr.com/2021/09/why-court-barred-fg-from-retrying-ex-abia-gov-uzor-kalu/
- SOURCE-07THISDAY (2021-09-29) - Court Restrains FG from Retrying Orji Kalu over Alleged N7.1bn Fraud
- THISDAY (2021-09-29) - Court Restrains FG from Retrying Orji Kalu over Alleged N7.1bn Fraudwww.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2021/09/29/court-restrains-fg-from-retrying-orji-kalu-over-alleged-n7-1bn-fraud/
- SOURCE-08Punch - N7.6bn fraud: Appeal Court dismisses attempt to retry Orji Kalu
- Punch - N7.6bn fraud: Appeal Court dismisses attempt to retry Orji Kalupunchng.com/n7-6bn-fraud-appeal-court-dismisses-attempt-to-retry-orji-kalu/
- SOURCE-09Channels TV (2024-03-06) - Appeal Court Strikes Out FG's Bid To Retry Orji Kalu
- Channels TV (2024-03-06) - Appeal Court Strikes Out FG's Bid To Retry Orji Kaluwww.channelstv.com/2024/03/06/alleged-n7-6bn-fraud-appeal-court-strikes-out-fgs-bid-to-retry-orji-kalu/
- SOURCE-10Premium Times - Alleged N7.1bn Fraud: Appeal Court clears EFCC to challenge ruling stopping Orji Kalu's retrial
- Premium Times - Alleged N7.1bn Fraud: Appeal Court clears EFCC to challenge ruling stopping Orji Kalu's retrialwww.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/782593-alleged-n7-1bn-fraud-appeal-court-clears-efcc-to-challenge-ruling-stopping-orji-kalus-retrial.html
- SOURCE-11EFCC press release (2019-12-05) - Court Jails Orji Kalu, Bags 12 Years for N7.65bn Fraud
- EFCC press release (2019-12-05) - Court Jails Orji Kalu, Bags 12 Years for N7.65bn Fraudefcc.gov.ng/efcc/news-and-information/news-release/5248-court-jails-orji-kalu-bags-12-years-for-n7-65bn-fraud
- SOURCE-12EFCC press release - EFCC to Appeal Court Ruling on Orji Kalu's Re-trial
- EFCC press release - EFCC to Appeal Court Ruling on Orji Kalu's Re-trialwww.efcc.gov.ng/efcc/news-and-information/news-release/7240-efcc-to-appeal-court-ruling-on-orji-kalu-s-re-trial
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