Appeal Court Strips Orji Kalu of Degree Certificate

By Charles Igbo

Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has lost his degree certificate.

The Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, stripped Kalu of the certificate on Tuesday, in a judgment that is likely to jolt him.

Kalu acquired the degree certificate from Abia State University when he was the Governor of the State, as well as the Visitor to the University.

Not a few people at the time poked fun at him when a photograph of the Governor, taking examination alone in a big hall, surfaced in the media. The questions were which lecturer would dare fail the University’s Visitor? And what time did the Governor have to attend lectures?

However, he was awarded the degree which was described as controversial. But in the heat of his serious disagreement with his successor, Senator Theodore Orji, the University withdrew the degree certificate after a Panel submitted a report on it.

The impression Kalu had was that the withdrawal was influenced by then Governor Theodore Orji. He, therefore, proceeded to an Isikwuato, Abia State High Court to challenge the withdrawal. The Court restored it to him. But the University appealed the Judgement.

In a judgment on Tuesday, November 30, read by the Hon. Justice Adefope Okojie of the Court of Appeal, Owerri Division, Senator Orji Kalu’s certificate was again withdrawn.

Justice Okojie said that the Isikwuato High Court lacked any jurisdiction over the case. A source close to Kalu said he is likely to approach the Supreme Court. But another source said the initial stripping by the University was politically motivated. He insisted that Senator Kalu does not need the certificate as it does not validate who he is.

“He is already an accomplished man”, he emphasised.