Court declares Orji Kalu, 2 others guilty of alleged N7.65bn fraud

- A Federal High Court in Lagos finds Orji Uzor-Kalu, former governor of Abia, guilty of alleged N7.65bn fraud - Also found guilty by the court are Kalu's company and a former director of finance in his government - The court sentenced the former governor to 12 years imprisonment A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Thursday, December 5, reportedly found Orji Uzor Kalu, senator and former governor of Abia state, guilty of alleged N7.65 billion fraud. Kalu, according to The Nation, was found guilty with two others in the alleged fraud. The report said Kalu’s co-defendants also found guilty are his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and Udeh Udeogu, a former director of finance and accounts under him as governor.

The court presided over by Justice Mohammad Idris sentenced Orji Kalu to 12 years imprisonment. The prison sentence also came with other multiple sentences between three and five years. The other two defendants were slammed with multiple sentences between three and 10 years. The judgement of the court came weeks after an appeal court dismissed an application filed by the People’s Democratic Party's (PDP) candidate for the Abia North senatorial district, Mao Ohuabunwa, against Kalu's victory. Uzor-Kalu, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had in his reaction, said he had nothing to say but to give all thanks and glory to God Almighty. Recently, Uzor-Kalu, who governed Abia between 1999 and 2007, told the court during one of the trials that he governed the state with his personal money within the initial six months of his first tenure. He said he could not have stolen what was not in existence. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app Earlier, an anti-corruption group was quoted as raising an alarm over the sudden change of date for the final judgement on the N7.6 billion fraud charge against Uzor-Kalu. The group as lovers of democracy, patiently waited for the 12-years, following the court trial of the former governor who is now a senator at the ninth Senate.