N7.1bn fraud: Orji Kalu bags 12 years imprisonment…… begs prison official not to handcuff him
A Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday sentenced a former Governor of Abia, Orji Kalu, to 12 years’ imprisonment for N7.2 billion fraud and money laundering. The court convicted Kalu, now a senator, on all the 39 counts preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission charge.
Kalu was charged alongside a former Commissioner for Finance, in the state Jones Udeogo, and his company, Slok Nig. Ltd. While Kalu and his company were found guilty of all the 39 counts, Udeogo was convicted on 34 counts and sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment. The court ordered that the Slok Nig. Ltd. be wound up and its assets forfeited to the Federal Government.
However , there a mild drama by the former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, when the prison officials wanted to handcuff him and his partner in crime , he was heard asking prison warders, “Where are you taking us to?” after his sentencing.
Kalu, who is the Senate Chief Whip, also begged the prison warders not to handcuff him in public.
Kalu and his co-defendants were being removed from the dock by prison officials, they attempted to handcuff him.
The former governor, who appeared shaken, said, “Where are you taking us to now? Please, don’t handcuff me. I will follow you.”
Two unidentified women were also seen weeping as Kalu was being led away.
Kalu’s associate, Udeogu, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, while the company which was used in perpetrating the fraud, Slok Limited, was ordered to be wound up by Justice Idris Mohammed.
