Robert Egbe
MIXED reactions on Thursday trailed the conviction of former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos.
Prominent among those who spoke on the development were the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), the National President of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Voters Awareness Initiative, the People’s Democratic Party and Inter-Party Advisory Council in Abia State. Others were the Southeast Media Aide to Kalu and the All Progressives Congress.
While many hailed the verdict, two others who are political associates of the former governor flayed it , saying an appeal was underway.
SERAP, through its Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, said the judiciary had through the judgment shown that it was playing its part in the anti-graft war.
“What we see now is that the judiciary is trying to live up to expectations; what must be done has to be done. There is no basis for querying the judgment,” he added in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria.
The SERAP boss, who, however, said Kalu had the right to appeal the verdict, said:”If the allegations and evidence are anything to go by, I believe justice has been properly served irrespective of whoever is involved.”
The CDHR noted the role the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) played in the speedy trial of the case.
The group’s National President, Malachy Ugwummadu,in an interview with NAN, hailed the provisions of ACJA, which prevented the trial from starting de novo (from the beginning) when the trial judge was elevated to the Court of Appeal.
“The speed with which this case was adjudicated has everything to do with the ACJA that now allows that a trial judge, though elevated, can return to conclude an ongoing criminal proceeding,” it said.
The CDHR pointed out that the judgment proved that no individual was above the law.
It added: “The law remains the law. The fact that Kalu defected to the APC from the PDP did not provide a cover for him.
“This judgment has established a precedent; but giving the caliber of the defendant, we are likely going to see an appeal against the judgment.”
Also, the President of VAI ,Mr Wale Ogunade, described the judgment as victory for democracy.
He said: “It is a victory for democracy because it shows that nobody is above the law.
“Kalu moved from one political party to another trying to hobnob with President Muhammadu Buhari to save him from the law.
”Nobody is above the law, no matter how connected you are. No matter how long it takes, the long arm of the law will catch up with anyone who breaks the law.
“I hope it will serve as a warning to any Nigerians who think they are powerful; the only powerful being is God.”
The Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council in the state, Mr Ceekay Igara, described the judgment as “good precedence.”
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According to him, “if Kalu was found wanting as governor, he should face judgment.
“It is a normal thing and goes to prove that nobody is above the law.
He said the assets of Slok Nig. Ltd. should be forfeited to the Abia State State Government and not the Federal Government.
A PDP chieftain, Chief Okey Nwagbara, said the judgment demonstrated the commitment of the Federal Government to fight corruption.
“It is a very straight-forward judgment against corruption. The judgment shows that the judiciary is independent and actually the hope of the common man,” he added.
Nwagbara suggested that the assets of Slok be transferred to the Abia State Government,
“I want the Federal Government to do justice by converting the property of Slok to Abia State Government because the money he was accused of stealing, is our state government’s,” he said.
Abia APC Chairman Chief Donatus Nwankpa said he was disappointed and angry with the development.
Nwankpa, who was a member of the House of Assembly when Kalu was governor, argued that the judgment was not fair.
He said: “The party(APC) will meet to take a position on the judgment but as an individual, I am very saddened by the judgment.”
“I am not convinced that judgment was given,” adding that the court’s verdict sustained his doubts about the integrity and objectivity of the nation’s judiciary.
Mr Maduka Okoro, the Southeast Media aide to Kalu, told NAN that Kalu would appeal the judgment “to allow other judges and a higher court take another look at the case.”
Okoro said Kalu was not bothered by the judgment, but considered it as one of the travails that every leader must experience “before becoming what God wants him to be.”
He expressed optimism that the judgment would be reversed by a higher court, adding that Kalu would be acquitted at last.
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