Where former governors Jolly Nyame of Taraba State and Joshua Dariye of Plateau State, who are presently serving 14-year jail terms failed to secure bail from prison pending appeal, many are wondering if former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu could succeed, writes Davidson Iriekpen
Will former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, be lucky with his application for bail from prison pending appeal? This is the question Justice Mohammed Liman would answer tomorrow when he delivers his ruling on the former governor’s application.
Justice Mohammed Idris had on December 5 convicted and sentenced Orji Uzor Kalu to a concurrent term of 12 years imprisonment over N7.2billion fraud after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged and prosecuted him alongside his former Commissioner for Finance, Jonnes Ude Udeogo, and his Company, Slok Nigeria Limited, on an amended 39 counts charge of fraud.
In his judgment, Justice Idris found Kalu and Slok guilty of all 39 counts of the charge, while the second defendant Udeogo, was convicted on 34 counts of the charge. While Kalu was sentenced to a term of 12 years imprisonment for the offence, Udeogo got 10 years imprisonment. The court ordered that Slok Nigeria Limited be wound up and its assets forfeited to federal government.
“The case was conclusively investigated as the prosecution conducted thorough investigations. No gaps were left unfilled; this is the acceptable practice. The first defendant failed in his obligations under the law. He acted contrary to his codes of conduct and will be dealt with accordingly. No evil deed will go unpunished. The offences are anti-human; it is condemned worldwide, because it is a crime against humanity,” the judge held.
