The Nigeria Correctional Service said on Monday it was yet to release former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, from the Kuje custodial facility because it has no received any warrant for his release from the Supreme Court.
Recall that a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had in December last year found the former governor guilty of stealing N7.1 billion and sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment.
However, the Supreme Court upturned the conviction on the ground that the trial judge was not competent to hear the case as he had been elevated to the Court of Appeal at the time of the trial.
The apex court held that a Justice of the Court of Appeal cannot operate as a judge of the Federal High Court, and ordered the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to reassign the case for trial.
READ ALSO: Kalu: Ubani Hails Supreme Court Judgment, Says Fiat To Trial Judge, Inconsistent With Constitution
Reacting to reports that Kalu had moved to his residence in Asokoro, after being released from custody, the NCoS spokesman, Chuks Njoku, stated that the former governor and Senator representing Abia North was still in their custody.
According to him, the service had not received the court judgment and the warrant for Kalu’s release from the custodial centre.
There had been reports that the senator was released on Friday shortly after the Supreme Court voided his conviction.
But Njoku insisted that the Kalu would remain in custody and would not be released until the service gets a warrant from the court.
