For all the tweens who had no idea 2baba was once 2face and in a three-man musical group, the subject of today’s article — Orji Uzor Kalu was Governor of Abia State between 1999 and 2007.
If we’re to believe the EFCC (and there’s no reason not to) within that period, Orji Kalu did what many a hot-blooded, greedy Nigerian governor has done in the past and made an Instagram flex, savings, pension and emergency fund of the Abia State government treasury.
Orji Kalu, Slok Nigeria Limited (a company owned by Kalu) and Udeh Udeogu, a former director of finance and accounts in Abia were accused of diverting ₦ 7.65 billion from the purse of the state government.
Kalu was also accused of illegally taking ₦ 460 million from Abia’s treasury. It took the EFCC 12 years to convict him.
In that time, Orji Uzor Kalu, a man everyone knew to have a criminal case with the EFCC, went on to contest the Abia North Senate Seat in 2011. He lost.
Between 2016 and 2019, while this man still had a case with the EFCC, he was out and about switching parties and campaigning for the future second-term presidency of Muhammadu Buhari. Look how happy they look here:
Now remember kids, don’t let something small like a corruption case the size of a small country, stop you from pursuing your dreams. Orji Kalu didn’t, and in 2019, he was rewarded for his persistence with the Senate seat for Abia North. He was even appointed Chief Whip by the All Progressives Congress.
I said, this man with a ₦ 7.6 billion corruption case with the EFCC was contesting and winning elections and campaigning for the presidency with – 0 fucks to give.
Anyway, after years of dodging court appearances and flouting bail conditions that mandated he not travel, a federal High Court in Lagos State, presided by Mohammad Idris sentenced the former governor to 12 years in prison. Victory against corruption right? Guess again.
Without a doubt, Senator Kalu will appeal the court’s decision and for however long it takes to reach a final judgement on the matter, he will receive all salaries and entitlements as prescribed by the Senate, the Senate President – Ahmed Lawan actually said so. His seat will also not be made vacant. Who’s winning this corruption war again?
