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‘My Belief In Nigeria Reaffirmed’, Says Orji Kalu On Supreme Court Verdict
The Senate Chief Whip, Dr. Orji Kalu, has said the supreme court judgement that overturned his conviction by a federal high court for corruption has reaffirmed his belief in Nigeria justice system.
The former Abia state governor said he took with him from prison what he called ‘invaluable lessons’.
He was released from the Kuje Prison moments after the Supreme Court voided his conviction five months ago by a Federal High Court.
The apex Court, in its ruling, held that the judgement that convicted Kalu was illegal because Justice Mohammed Idris and others who presided over the case had been promoted to the Court of Appeal before the judgment and only returned to the lower court to deliver the judgment.
The apex court consequently ordered release of Kalu and also ordered a fresh hearing of the case.
Reacting to the Supreme Court verdict, Kalu in a statement said his imprisonment had exposed him to the inner workings of Nigeria criminal justice system.
He added that the experience also taught him ‘invaluable lessons’ about the country and people and what meant to love and be loved.
provided him 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.”
His experience, according to him, “tested and reaffirmed my belief and confidence in our country, Nigeria.”
He added: “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 events of the past five months gave me 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”
Kalu vowed to, from now onward, dedicate his time to seeking justice for Nigerians irrespective of tribe and location.
“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.”
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