Nigerians React As Supreme Court Frees Orji Uzor Kalu

The immediate release of Nigerian majority whip of the Senate, Cheif Orji Uzor Kalu after five months at Kuje correctional facility has generated several reactions from Nigerians

Naija News reported that the freedom of the former Governor of Abia was as a result of the verdict by a seven-man panel of the Justices of the Supreme court who nullified judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal high court.

The Supreme Court set aside the judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal high court, Lagos which sentenced Ude Udeogu and Senator Oriji Uzor Kalu to 10 and 12 years imprisonment respectively.

Justice Ejembi Ekwo who read the lead judgment held that justice Mohammed Idris having been elevated to a Justice of the Court of Appeal lacked the jurisdiction to continue with the trial.

Justice Ekwo said President of the Court of Appeal has no powers to issue a fait, asking Justice Idris to go back to the trial court to conclude the trial.

However, this new development has generated several reactions on social media and here are reactions below

Nigerian judiciary as a purveyor of “just us” instead of justice. In just one week we found out their kids, wards/relatives populated a new list of judges; they found a judge to jail a 70 year-old who insulted @mBuhari & a full panel of Supreme Court justices to free Orji &Buruji pic.twitter.com/h56LbGxobR

— Omoyele Sowore (@YeleSowore) May 8, 2020

The Supreme Court is right in setting aside the conviction of Orji Uzor Kalu. I have always maintained the view that it is unconstitutional for a judge of the Federal High Court who has been elevated to the Court of Appeal to continue to sit over cases at the Federal High Court.

— Inibehe Effiong (@InibeheEffiong) May 8, 2020

Technicality for the rich

— Ogbuefi Uwa Bunkoye📿NBA (@realuweez) May 8, 2020

So OUK is now expecting a fresh trial, we should forget about all this antics and analogies. We all know how it will end, not forgetting how speedy his appeal was handle knowing how slow our courts processes has been. The fresh trial is a journey in futility.

— Diana Ekpa (@Diana_Ekpa) May 8, 2020

https://twitter.com/onyiforlife/status/1258722543873200128?s=20

Orji Uzor Kalu is very lucky that a lacuna exists in his judgment. If he's wise, he'd better enter into a Out of Court Settlement, return the glaringly looted funds…… If not, I don't see him escaping a fresh prison terms if he insists on trial.

— Ayekooto (@DeeOneAyekooto) May 8, 2020

Let it be on RECORD that, other than the Supreme Court, ORJI KALU owes his FREEDOM to @MaziNnamdiKanu who – as far back as Dec 2019 – called Kalu’s conviction “politically motivated”. pic.twitter.com/CTPYEksHs8

— aloy ejimakor (@AloyEjimakor) May 8, 2020

Suddenly the Supreme Court judgement on dismissal of Orji Kalu’s case has a political undertone.

The claim is coming from the same set of people who initially said he was being convicted only because he is IGBO a South Easterner.

Wailers!!!
Oriyin ti tan low battery

— Abiodun Bello 🇳🇬 (@Abdul_A_Bello) May 8, 2020

https://twitter.com/Mozinho69744590/status/1258761034870988800?s=20

Join Apc and all your sins are forgiven.

— Emmanuel Atser 💙🇳🇬 🌓🚀 (@emmanuel_atser) May 8, 2020

BREAKING:

Supreme Court Nullifies Orji Uzor Kalu’s Conviction order fresh trial at Federal High Court

Reasons: the lower court that sentenced him lack jurisdiction to jail him.

CC: @Buchyogba pic.twitter.com/7V6YuF4Q1m

— #Chiukwunedum #MHDay #MrPeriod #MrToilet #NekeBoy (@ogene_ogbodo) May 8, 2020

Meanwhile, despite several backlashes of the Apex court verdict some Nigerians believe that the verdict was appropriate. For instance A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Abiodun Owonikoko Friday said the Supreme Court lawfully quashed the conviction and 12-year imprisonment of former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor-Kalu.

Owonikoko said the Federal High Court in Lagos which last December 5 found Kalu guilty of stealing about N7.1billion from the Abia State treasury, gave a technically flawed judgment.

He said trial judge Justice Idris’ decision to continue presiding over Kalu’s case after his elevation to the Court of Appeal was contentious and likely to be overturned on appeal, just like the apex court did.

In a Facebook post minutes after the Supreme Court ordered a retrial of Kalu’s case, Owonikoko said: “We always knew that the judgment of the trial court was technically flawed (not on the merit though) hence the order for trial de novo (afresh ).

“It was easy to predict that it might not survive on appeal based on that snag of the judge coming back from court of appeal to deliver…

here also other similar reactions below

The Supreme Court is right in setting aside the conviction of Orji Uzor Kalu. I have always maintained the view that it is unconstitutional for a judge of the Federal High Court who has been elevated to the Court of Appeal to continue to sit over cases at the Federal High Court.

— Inibehe Effiong (@InibeheEffiong) May 8, 2020

 

 

This case has been on for too long. Kalu at a point fought the prosecution up to the Supreme Court on technical points. The trial was stalled. By the time he lost his interlocutory appeal, a lot had changed, including the elevation of the trial judge to the Court of Appeal.

— Inibehe Effiong (@InibeheEffiong) May 8, 2020

https://twitter.com/wordworks0007/status/1258742131251970053?s=20

I salute the judges for the fair Justice.
We will make our country a better one.

— Biafra and Israel Are One (@Biafra_Israel) May 8, 2020

BREAKING: The Supreme Court has nullified the conviction of ex-Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu over N7.6bn fraud & ordered fresh trial before a lower court.

The Court held that Hon Justice M Idris who was elevated to Court of Appeal cannot sit as a judge of Fed High Court pic.twitter.com/bZtT3LfCEv

— TransparencIT (@TransparencITng) May 8, 2020

Now that Orji Uzor Kalu is out, he must understand that he's out today is because of the pressure from @MaziNnamdiKanu Few days ago in his broadcast he warned the zoo government to release Orji Uzor and Olisa Metuh. Orji Uzor must now chose which God to worship! @Amaka_Ekwo pic.twitter.com/fmgYWu7lLX

— NnamdiKanu's_FanClub (@NnamdiFans) May 8, 2020

📹"If They Don't Release Orji Uzor Kalu, I Will Make Sure That Magu Won't Travel Abroad." – Says @MaziNnamdiKanu During His Broadcast On The 18th Of April 2020 When He Ordered For The Release Of Orji Uzor Kalu.

Thanks To @MaziNnamdiKanu They've Released Orji Uzor Kalu. pic.twitter.com/oNyc9GtZED

— Somto Okonkwo 𓃵 (@General_Somto) May 8, 2020

It's actually impressive that Orji Uzor Kalu's appeal at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court was heard and delivered in less than six months.🤡🤡🤡

Selective efficiency.

— YOUR LAWYER ⚖️ IS #OBIDIENT (@Ifeoma_Solanke) May 8, 2020