A convicted former governor of Abia State, and now Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu, who is serving 12-year imprisonment for N7.65billion fraud and money laundering, on Tuesday prayed the Federal High Court in Lagos to grant him bail, pending the hearing of his appeal against his conviction on grounds of ill health.
Convicted Orji Uzor Kalu had filed an application for bail pending the hearing of an appeal suit challenging his conviction.
The former governor said he is battling serious health challenges that cannot be handled in the prison. But EFCC, which prosecuted Kalu on the corruption charges, opposed the application.
The anti-graft agency argued that bail is for accused persons on the presumption of being innocent, but since the former Governor has been convicted, he can no longer enjoy such privilege.
The presiding judge, Mohammed Liman, adjourned till 23rd, December 2019 for ruling on the bail application. Kalu was sentenced to 12 years in jail over N7.16 billion fraud by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos on December 5.
The judge convicted Kalu, a Director of Finance and Accounts at the Abia State Government House during Kalu’s tenure, Udeh Udeogu, and Kalu’s firm, Slok Nigeria Ltd on each of the 39 counts.
Justice Mohammed Idris sentenced Kalu to 133 years imprisonment, Udeogu to 56 years imprisonment and ordered that Slok be wound up and its assets forfeited to the Federal Government.
The sentences will run concurrently, the judge said, meaning Kalu will only spend a maximum of 12 years in jail.