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Orji Kalu weeps, begs not to be handcuffed in public
BY OUR EDITOR
Former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, who was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, Thursday over N7.65 billion fraud, by a Federal High court sitting in Lagos, reportedly wept and was seeing mopping tears, while the judge read out the judgment.
Even though Kalu managed to put up a wry as he was being led out of the court by the Correctional Service officers, after his sentencing, he was overheard speaking out loudly, “2023, here we come.”
Kalu, who is the Senate’s Chief Whip, was also heard asking prison warders, “where are you taking us to?”
Orji Kalu jailed 12 years for stealing N7.65 billion Abia State money
Apparently shaken, he pleaded with the prison warders not to handcuff him in public. “Where are you taking us to now? Please don’t handcuff me,” he pleaded intermittently.
In an amended 39-counts charge, Kalu, his company (Slok) and a former director of finance Abia State Ude Udeogu, were accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of conspiring and diverting over N7 billion belonging to Abia State.
Kalu’s associate, Udeogu, was sentenced to 10 years in prison while the company which was used in committing the fraud, Slok Limited, was ordered to be wound up and all the assets forfeited to the Federal Government.
The case began in 2007, 12 years ago, when they were first arraigned for the offences but before a different judge.
Justice Idris held that the EFCC proved that the convicts conspired and diverted N7.65bn from the coffers of the Abia State.
The court found him and his co-defendants guilty of the entire 39 counts filed against them by the EFCC.
Justice Idris sentenced Kalu, to five years imprisonment each from counts one to 11 and three years each from counts 23 to 33. He was also sentenced to 12 years each, from counts 34 to 38 and five years on count 39.
The total sentence is 133 years imprisonment, but he would be serving 12 years.
The Judge said that the sentence is to run concurrently.