…Lead Counsel, Awa Kalu, Applies for Copy of Judgement
By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Baring any unforeseen circumstances, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu will next week appeal his conviction for fraud by the court.
Mr Awa Kalu (SAN), the lead defence team and counsel to Kalu has confirmed to TheNiche in a telephone conversation.
Awa Kalu said that his legal team will definitely file an appeal to challenge the judgement of Justice Mohammed Idris who on Thursday, December 5, at the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, Nigeria, convicted and sentenced Senator Kalu representing Abia North Senatorial district to 12 years imprisonment over N7.6 billion fraud.
Asked to specify the time he would file an appeal, Awa Kalu said that he has not got the copy of the judgement, saying that if he gets the copy, he will study it before heading to Appeal Court to challenge the judgement.
Pressed to give a definite time to file an appeal, he said that it could be “anytime next week since this week is already over.”
On why he was not in Court on Thursday when the judgement was delivered, Orji Kalu’s Counsel replied: “Do you expect me to come all the way from Abuja just to listen to the judgement?
“I have other lawyers there. I cannot come from Abuja just for the judgement.
“We have been in the matter for 12 years and so coming to Lagos for the judgement is not necessary.”
Senator Kalu, a chieftain of Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and Senate Chief Whip was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment alongside his former Commissioner Jones Udeh Udeogo who also bagged 10 years jail term over N7.6 million fraud.
They were found guilty among other charges, of diverting Abia State funds to their personal accounts.
Slok Nigeria Limited belonging to Senator Kalu was convicted as well and was ordered to be wound up and the assets forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
