In December 2019, Kalu was sentenced to 12 years in prison after he was convicted of N7.1bn fraud alongside his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited, and a former Director of Finance at the Abia State Government House, Jones Udeogu.

The Supreme court on May 8, 2020, nullified Kalu and Udeogo’s conviction on grounds that the presiding judge, Justice Mohammed Idris, lacked the jurisdiction to have presided over their case.

Kalu immediately approached the Federal High Court and filed an appeal for his release. The ruling was delivered today in his favor.