Justice Mohammed Idris sentenced Kalu to 133 years imprisonment and Udeogu to 56 years imprisonment.  He ordered that Slok be wound up and its assets forfeited to the Federal Government.

Kalu, who is a senator on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress, was sentenced to five years each on counts 1 to 11, totalling 55 years; three years each on counts 23 to 33, totalling 30 years; and 12 years each on counts 34 to 38, totalling 48 years.

The sentences will run concurrently, meaning Kalu will only spend a maximum of 12 years in jail.

Dr Waripamo Owei-Dudafa was charged for an alleged N1.6billion fraud. In a 190-page judgment, Justice Mohammed Idris held that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission failed to prove any of the 22-count charge beyond reasonable doubt against Owei-Dudafa and a Heritage Bank worker Joseph Iwejuo.

He said the anti-graft agency’s case was “based on suspicions” but that suspicions “cannot take the place of legal evidence”.

Justice Idris also observed that the EFCC failed to call vital witnesses, including Jonathan and former NSA Sambo Dasuki, who could have helped its case.

The judge noted that a particular vital witness, Sompre Omeibi, who could have linked the defendants to the offences, was not summoned to testify.