A Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, on Thursday,
sentenced a serving senator and ex-governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, to 12
years in prison for N7.65 billion fraud.
Justice Mohammed Idris who delivered the sentence had
earlier declared him guilty of the charge in the case that had been on for 12
years.
Mr Kalu was tried alongside his company, Slok Nigeria
Limited, and Udeh Udeogu, who was Director of Finance and Accounts at the Abia
State Government House during Mr Kalu’s tenure as governor.
In an amended 39 counts charge, they were accused by the
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of conspiring and diverting over N7
billion from the coffers of the state.
In one of the counts, the EFCC alleged that Mr Kalu, who was
Abia State Governor between 1999 and 2007, “did procure Slok Nigeria Limited –
a company solely owned by you and members of your family – to retain in its
account, domiciled with the then Inland Bank Plc, Apapa branch, Lagos, an
aggregate sum of N7,197,871,208.7 on your behalf.”
The prosecution claimed that the N7.1 billion “formed part
of the funds illegally derived from the treasury of the Abia State Government
and which was converted into several bank drafts before they were paid into the
said company’s account.”
The prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, said the ex-governor
violated Section 17(c) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2004, and was
liable to be punished under Section 16 of the same Act.
Apart from the N7.1bn, which he was accused of laundering,
the ex-governor and the other defendants were also accused of receiving a total
of N460 million allegedly stolen from the Abia State Government treasury
between July and December 2002.
The prosecutor said they breached Section 427 of the
Criminal Code Act, Cap 77, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990.
The defendants had pleaded not guilty to all counts.
During the trial, the prosecution called 19 witnesses while
the defendants testified on behalf of themselves .
In his judgement, Mr Idris convicted and sentenced the first
defendant, Mr Kalu, to five years imprisonment on counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8,
9, 10 and 11; three years on counts 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33;
12 years on counts 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38 and five years on count 39. All the
sentences are to run concurrently meaning he would be in prison for 12 years
from the day of conviction.
The second defendant was convicted and sentenced to three
years imprisonment on counts 24, 25, 27, 28, 30, 31, 32 and 10 years on counts
34, 37, 38 and 39.
The sentences will run concurrently meaning he would be in
jail for 10 years.
Justice Idris further held that Mr Kalu’s company, Slok
Nigeria Limited, the third defendant, be wounded up and all assets forfeited to
the federal government.
