The former Governor was convicted and handed a prison sentence alongside Udeh Udeogu who served as Finance Commissioner during his administration.

The duo who however filed an appeal against the judgement, insisted that the federal high court in Lagos lacked the jurisdiction to try them because that was not where the offence was committed.

However the three man panel at the court of appeal in Abuja dismissed the appeal on grounds of lacking merit. Justice Olabisi Ige who delivered the lead judgement, stated that the complaint of the appellants is a non-issue as their right was not infringed.