Disappointment may have greeted the chief whip of the Senate, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu as the court throws out post-conviction bail.
A Federal High Court in Lagos today 23rd December 2019 threw out the former Abia State governor, post-judgment bail application and ordered that he should remain in the prison custody until his appeal is heard.
Justice Abdullahi Liman wondered the spirit behind the speedy filing of the motion for bail when the appeal against Kalu’s conviction has not been heard.
Following the move by the judge, the former governor is expected to celebrate Christmas and New Year in prison custody.
Kalu was convicted and sentenced to 12 years in jail after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed N7.65 billion fraud charge against him.
The EFCC had filed the charge in 2007.
The court convicted Kalu on all the 39 counts preferred against him by the EFCC.
Kalu was charged alongside a former Commissioner for Finance, in the state, Jones Udeogo, and his company, Slok Nig. Ltd.
While Kalu and his company were found guilty of all the 39 counts, Udeogo was convicted on 34 counts and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The court ordered that the Slok Nig. Ltd. should be wound up and its assets forfeited to the Federal Government.
