The Nigeria Correctional Service has said that it has not released a former Abia State Governor, Orji Kalu , from the Kuje custodial facility because it had not received a warrant for his release from the Supreme Court.
The NCoS spokesman , Chuks Njoku , said this in reaction to reports that Kalu had been released from custody where he had been held for five months .
Reports had indicated that the senator was released on Friday shortly after the Supreme Court voided his December conviction in a multi- billion naira corruption trial.
The lawmaker was said to have moved to his residence in Asokoro , Abuja , after he was discharged from custody by the NCoS .
But the NCoS spokesman, Chuks Njoku , confirmed to our correspondent on Saturday , that the service had not received the court judgment and the warrant for Kalu ’s release from the custodial centre.
He said, “ We have not received any paper ; the order was just made on Friday and we have to get the warrant of release from the Supreme Court. So, may be by Monday we would get the paper , but we have no warrant to release him . The court pronouncement is not enough to release him .”
Njoku insisted that the senator would remain in custody , adding that “ he would not be released until we get a warrant from the court. ”
A Lagos Division of the Federal High Court had last year found the former governor guilty of stealing N 7 . 1 bn and sentenced him to 12 years imprisonment .
But the Supreme Court in its judgment held that the trial court acted without jurisdiction when it convicted Kalu , his firm , Slok Nigeria Limited , and former Director of Finance in Abia State , Jones Udeogu .
