Orji Uzor Kalu, a Nigerian senator who was jailed for alleged public fund stealing, has been released from detention, West African Pilot has learnt.
Mr. Kalu, a former Abia State Governor was freed from the Nigerian correctional facility in Kuje, Abuja, on Friday morning. This was disclosed by two sources closer to the development.
The sources who spoke in anonymity said he has moved to his residence Off Queen Amina Street outside the Aso Rock Presidential Villa. The sources said they did not get immediate permission to disclose his release to the press.
The release of Kalu was as a result of the Supreme Court voiding his conviction in December 2019 in a multibillionaire corruption charges.
Mr. Kalu was accused of looking and mismanaging Abia State fund during his administration as Governor of the state between 1999 and 2007.
He pleaded his not guilty and appealed his conviction by the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court.
On Friday morning, the Supreme Court said Kalu’s conviction was inappropriate and ordered a retrial of the case.
According to Channels TV on Friday morning, a seven-member panel of the apex court in Nigeria, in a unanimous verdict delivered by Justice Ejembi Eko, declared the conviction null and void.
Channels TV reported that Justice Eko declared that Justice Mohammed Idris, who convicted Kalu, was already a justice of the Court of Appeal, when he ruled and sentenced Kalu and his co-defendant.
He posited that the Justice of the Court of Appeal cannot operate as judge of the Federal High Court. He then ordered the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to reassign the case for trial.
