EFCC, Twitter Users React As Supreme Court Frees Orji Uzor Kalu

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), as well as Nigerians on Twitter, have reacted to the Supreme Court’s nullification of the conviction of a former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu.

On Friday, the Supreme Court of Nigeria nullified the judgment which convicted Orji Uzor Kalu and Ude Udeogu, a former Director of Finance and Account at the Abia State Government House to 12 and 10 years imprisonment, respectively. The apex court ordered their fresh trial at a lower court.

Reacting to the news, EFCC Head, Media and Publicity, Dele Oyewale in a statement said that the court based its verdict on the grounds that Justice Mohammed Idris, who convicted Kalu and Ude Udeogu had been elevated to the Court of Appeal before the judgment and returned to the lower court to deliver the judgement which is considered illegal.

While stressing that the evidences against Kalu and others were overwhelming, Oyewale said the Commission is prepared for a fresh and immediate retrial.

The statement reads;

The attention of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to the judgment of the Supreme Court nullifying the trial of a former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and Jones Udeogu, a former Director of Finance and Account of Abia State Government and ordering their fresh trial at the lower court.

The apex court based its verdict on the grounds that Justice Mohammed Idris, who convicted Kalu and others had been elevated to the Court of Appeal before the judgment and returned to the lower court to deliver the judgment, which it considered as illegal.

The EFCC considers the judgment of the apex court as quite unfortunate. It is a technical ambush against the trial of the former governor. The Commission is prepared for a fresh and immediate trial of the case because its evidences against Kalu and others are overwhelming.

The corruption charges against Kalu still subsist because the Supreme Court did not acquit him of them. The entire prosecutorial machinery of the EFCC would be launched in a fresh trial where justice is bound to be served in due course.

Also, some Nigerians took to Twitter on Friday to express dismay over the Supreme courts’ decision on the matter.

A Twitter user, Onu’kwube who tweets with the handle @RayNkah said:

When the law is “alive”, it is the fortress of the “common man”, when it is “dead”, it becomes helpless like clay to the Potter. In other words, it can be baked into nothingness. I think this is where we are today with the Supreme Court decision in Orji Uzor Kalu.

Another Twitter user, Ada Mbanefo, who tweets with the handle @chyagsx said:

Orji Uzor Kalu is nothing but a symbol of a failed system. An evidence of how corrupt this nation is. It is clear that Mr integrity is dishonest in all ways. Let’s make a toast 🥂 To our PAYG judiciary, your proceedings will get to your houses.

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