Former Abia State governor and current Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, is to wait till December 23, 2019 to know what the court will say in respect of his application for bail pending an appeal against his conviction.
Orji Kali approached the court via an application for bail to enable him get out of prison ahead of his appeal against his 12-year jail term
The Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, presided over by Justice Mohammed Idris, had on December 5, 2019 jailed Kalu for 12 years after finding him guilty of N7.56 billion fraud.
The court also ordered alu’s company, Slok Nigeria Limited, which he used to defraud Abia State government, to be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Equally jailed 10 years by the High Court was Kalu’s aide, Jones Ude, who was the director of finance in the Government House while Kalu served as governor.
However, Kalu through his counsel filed for bail on health grounds, pending his appeal.
But the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC opposed the bail on the ground that bail is for accused persons on the presumption of innocent, but that since he had been convicted, he could no longer enjoy such privilege.
The presiding judge, Mohammed Liman adjourned till 23 December 2019 for ruling.
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