A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on Monday dismissed the application for bail of ex-governor of Abia State and the Senate chief whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, who is currently serving a jail term in prison for fraud.
As a result, Kalu, who was sentenced to 12 years in imprisonment, will continue to serve his jail term pending the an appeal against the decision of the lower court.
The former governor was jailed by a Federal High Court, in Lagos, on December 5, for stealing N7.2 billion belonging to Abia State during his tenure (1999-2007).
After his conviction, he had filed an application praying the court to grant him bail on health grounds. In the application, Kalu argued that the prison lacked the medical facility to cater to his health.
But Justice Mohammed Idris, adjudicated on the application, held that there was no tangible ground to grant the convict’s request.
Idris dismissed the application on grounds of ill-health raised by Kalu, saying that he did not prove that the diseases he mentioned were contagious.
On the grounds that the bail would enable Kalu to represent his constituency in the Senate, the judge held that his constituents knew that he was on trial and still voted him into power.
On the grounds that the appeal might be delayed, Idris said that developments had broken past records on that.
“It is not in dispute that there are practice directions involved in appeal, but in recent times, this practice directions have been recently enhanced for speedy hearing and determination of high profile corruption cases.
“I believe the applicant can take advantage of these rules to run through the appeal channel.
“I found nothing in favour of the applicant in this application; it is, therefore, discountenanced,” the judge ruled.
JOSHUA BASSEY
