Court Convicts Ex-Governor Orji Kalu

Former Governor of Abia State and Chairman Slok Holdings, Orji Uzor Kalu is on his way to correctional centre(Prison) having been sentenced to 12 years imprisonment.

Justice Mohammed Idris of the Federal High Court, Lagos found him guilty of 39 count charge of fraud for embezzling total sum of  N7.65bn.

Orji Uzor Kalu and his former Commissioner for Finance, Ude Udeogo, and a company, Slok Nigeria Limited, were tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) on an amended 39-count charge of money laundering to the tune of N7.6bn.

During the trial in March 2018, the Compliant officer with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Olusegun Adesomoju told the court how millions of Naira were paid into the account of Slok Holdings Nigeria Limited, a company belonging to the former Governor of Abia State, Mr. Orji Uzor Kalu, while he was the governor of the state.

Adesomoju, who was led-in-evidence by the prosecutor, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), narrated to the court how several millions were paid via bank drafts into Sloks Nigeria Limited’s account domiciled in Apapa branch of First inland Bank, between 2001 to 2005.

According to him, between August 16 till December 6, a total sum of N110 million were paid in tranches of N20 million, N13 million, N17 million, and N40 million. He also told the court how N200 million, N550 million, N157 million, and N134 million, were also paid in tranches between 2002 to 2005, into the account of Slok Nigeria limited, through bank drafts.

 After the sentencing, Orji Uzor Kalu, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for fraud, was heard asking prison warders, “Where are you taking us to?”. Kalu, who is the Senate Chief Whip, also begged the prison warders not to handcuff him in public, as 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,  also 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.