The Supreme court has nullified the judgment that convicted Ude Udeogu and the former governor of Abia state, Senator Oriji Uzor Kalu.
A seven-man panel of the apex court also ordered the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court to reassign the case for a fresh trial.
The Supreme Court on Friday set aside the judgment delivered by Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos, which jailed Ude Udeogu and Senator Oriji Uzor Kalu for 10 and 12 years respectively.
Reading the lead judgment, Justice Ejembi Ekwo held that Justice Idris had been elevated to a Justice of the Court of Appeal and has therefore lacked the jurisdiction to continue with the trial.
Justice Ekwo maintained that the President of the Court of Appeal has no powers to issue a fait asking Justice Idris to go back to trial court to conclude the trial.
