Appeal Court Upholds Withdrawal Of Orji Kalu’s University Certificate

An appeal Court sitting in Owerri, Imo State has nullified the judgement of Isuikwuato High Court which restored a bachelors degree certificate of the Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, which was earlier withdrawn by Abia State University.

The court held that the trial court lacked jurisdiction over the matter.

Delivering judgement in Owerri, the Imo State capital, Justice Adefope-Okojie upheld the withdrawal of Orji Uzor Kalu’s certificate by the university.

The Appeal Court said the respondent ought to have exhausted all the remedies available to him before approaching the court to challenge the decision of the Senate of the tertiary institution.

Reacting to the judgement, counsel to the appellant, Jesse Nwaenyo, said the institution received the judgement with joy, noting that it has further proven that the respondent Uzor Kalu did not merit the certificate.

Recall that the Abia State University (ABSU) had on March 2, 2013 stripped the former Abia State governor of its degree certificate on the premise that he spent only 2 semesters in school (instead of 6) and his Admission-by-Transfer, violated the Academic Regulations of the University, its hard-earned reputation and the credibility of the certificates it awards.

In 2018, Orji kalu had approached an Abia State High Court, sitting in Isuikwuato to restore his Bachelors degree, stating that ABSU denied him fair hearing.