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I look forward to re-joining my colleagues in the Senate – Orji Kalu
BY NICHOLAS ABE
Former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, whose conviction by a Federal High Court, Lagos, was quashed by the Supreme Court on Friday, says he is looking forward to returning to the Senate.
“I look forward to re-joining my colleagues in the Senate as soon as possible,” excited Kalu said after the Supreme Court nullified the judgement that convicted him and sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment for stealing N7.1 billion Abia money.
Kalu, a senator representing Abia North on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), in a written statement issued in Abuja, dated May 8, 2020 said the Supreme Court by its judgement had affirmed his right to fair hearing and equal protection of the law.
He described the last five months he had been in prison at the Kuje Correctional Centre, Abuja, as profound and challenging period, while at the same time offering him the opportunity to learn some life’s invaluable lessons.
“Today, the Supreme Court of Nigeria gave a judgment in my favour, quashing the conviction which the lower court had entered against me. By today’s judgment, the Apex court of our dear country affirmed my right to fair hearing and equal protection of the law.
“The past five months have been quite a profound period for me. As challenging as that period has been, it has provided me an opportunity to learn invaluable lessons about our country, our peoples, our justice system and the true meaning of love. I mean love for family, love for our country and love for humanity,” he said in the statement he personally signed.
READ: Supreme Court nullifies Orji Kalu’s imprisonment!
Kalu thanked the justices of the Supreme Court “for their unwavering commitment to rule of law,” adding that his “experience tested and reaffirmed” his belief and confidence in Nigeria.
He philosophised: “My case is a true Nigerian story with a bold MADE-IN-NIGERIA stamp on it. It is a story of initial injustice that was caught and ultimately corrected. It is a story of restoration. It is a story of how a wrong was righted and how justice and truth prevailed in the end. It is a story of the power of hope.
“My case should teach us all that even though we may not get things right at the first attempt, with patience and dedication, we shall get them right eventually. That is the lesson of my case and that is the lesson of our country – that with dedication and patience, we shall place Nigeria in its rightful place eventually.”
The Senate Chief Whip promised to henceforth dedicate his time in the pursuit of justice for all, irrespective of state of origin or tribe, saying the last five months had given him an added perspective on matters of justice and injustice in Nigeria.
“I have come to know that the course of justice will not be complete if it stopped at my case. It must continue until it touches the lives of millions of Nigerians who face injustice anywhere in this world. I shall be dedicating my time henceforth to ensuring there will be justice for all Nigerians whether they are in Sokoto or Akwa Ibom or in Lagos or Maiduguri or in Jos or Enugu, or wherever they may be. Justice for one man or for a few people will no longer be enough in this country.
“A system whereby over 70% of all prison inmates’ population is made up of people awaiting trial cannot be allowed to continue. Situations where innocent people are falsely charged with murder just to get them out of the way does not dignify our country and cannot continue. Justice must now mean justice for all. That is my pledge to Nigerians,” he pledged.