Tag: Orji Kalu

8Feb By dthataNo Comments

Politics

₦7.1 Billion Fraud: Why EFCC Must Stop My Fresh Trial – Orji Kalu

The Abuja division of the Federal High Court on Monday gave a former Abia State Governor and Senate Chief Whip, Dr. Orji Kalu the permission to challenge his retrial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on alleged money laundering charges. Consequently, Justice Inyang Ekwo has ordered that the planned re-arraignment of the politician in the alleged N7.1billion money laundering charges be put on hold until the resolution of the legal questions raised against his retrial. In a motion exparte which was moved an argued by his counsel, Prof. Awa Kalu (SAN), Igbere TV reports that Senator Kalu asked for an order of Court prohibiting the EFCC from retrying him on same alleged money laundering charges against him. He contented that having been tried, convicted and se...

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1Feb By dthataNo Comments

Politics

EFCC to arraign Orji Kalu for Fraud Eight months after Retrial Verdict

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is set to arraign Orji Kalu, former governor of Abia state, before a federal high court in Abuja on charges of alleged fraud. The arraignment of the former governor is fixed for Tuesday, February 2, before Inyang Ekwo, a federal high court judge. Kalu who is currently the chief whip of the senate was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment in December 2019 after he was convicted for diverting N7.1 billion from the coffers of Abia state during his time as governor. The EFCC had preferred a 36-count charge against him and Ude Jones Udeogu, a former director of finance and account in Abia. Udeogu was also convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Displeased with the judgement, Udeogu had filed an appeal to challenge the co...

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12Jan By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Kalu’s Visit: I Don’t Owe Ikpeazu, PDP Any Explanation – Cosmos Ndukwe

The Abia State Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Cosmos Ndukwe has said that he does not owe the State Governor, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) any explanation for hosting an All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator, Orji Kalu in his home. Ndukwe stated this following the controversies, negative comments and reactions that had trailed the visit of Dr. Orji Kalu, the Senator representing Abia North and a former Governor of the State to his (Ndukwe) Akanu Item country home, in Abia, a visit which the Commissioner was said to have termed a ‘condolence visit’ rather than a political one. Among those who have criticized the Commissioner were Promise Uzoma Okoro, deputy chairman of the State’s Bende local government council. He said Ndukwe was an...

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20Nov By Czar Owolabi MarcusNo Comments

Sport

Nigerian billionaire Orji Kalu announces plans to buy significant stake in Arsenal

  Nigerian billionaire Orji Kalu has announced he plans to buy a significant stake in Arsenal. Kalu, a senator, businessman, and newspaper owner with an estimated fortune of £760 million has now said he wants to make a major investment in the North London giants to help 'bring back trophies'. And it will not be his first foray into the beautiful game. Kalu previously backed Nigerian club Enyimba FC, helping them dominate the local football scene. The 60-year-old, worth $1bn, announced: “Our success with Enyimba FC between 2000-07 has continuously increased my passion for football. “As the pillar of sports in Africa, I am considering an investment in football and I will buy 35 percent stake in Arsenal FC. “Our target is to lift the Champions League and EPL, and val...

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31Aug By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Orji Kalu Meets Abdulsalami Abubakar In Minna (Photos)

Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is currently in a closed-door meeting with former head of state, General Abdulsalami Abubakar. Kalu, a former Governor of Abia State, arrived the residence of Abdulsalami in Minna, Niger State at about 3:30pm on Monday. Senator Orji Kalu was immediately ushered into the ex-head of state's residence where he was received by General Abdulsalami himself. Our correspondent in the tour reports that Kalu and Abdulsalami later proceeded for an indoor meeting which lasted over an hour. The Chief Whip of the Senate earlier today paid General Ibrahim Babangida a private visit after which he proceeded to Abdulsalami’s residence. Igbere TV had reported how Kalu arrived the power state at exactly 2pm on Monday alongside political friends, assoc...

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3Aug By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Akpabio Names Orji Kalu, Uduaghan, James Ibori In NDDC Contract Scandal

Two former governors of Delta State, James Ibori and Emmanuel Uduaghan, and a former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu have been linked to the various contracts awarded by the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC. Also linked to the contracts in the letter submitted to the House of Representatives Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila, is a former lawmaker for the Imo North (Okigwe) constituency of Imo State, Senator Ifeanyi Ararume. Recall that a list had appeared earlier containing names of Senators and House of Representatives members involved in Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC contracts. In the letter with Reference Number MNDA/HM/04/IV/158, addressed to the Clerk to House of Reps, Patrick Giwa, and also copied to the office of the Attorney General of the Federatio...

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8May By dthataNo Comments

Politics

We Are Ready To Re-Arraign Orji Kalu Immediately – EFCC

The attention of the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to the judgment of the Supreme Court nullifying the trial of a former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu , his firm, Slok Nigeria Limited and Jones Udeogu, a former Director of Finance and Account of Abia State Government and ordering their fresh trial at the lower court. The apex court based its verdict on the grounds that Justice Mohammed Idris, who convicted Kalu and others had been elevated to the Court of Appeal before the judgment and returned to the lower court to deliver the judgment which it considered as illegal. The EFCC considers the judgment of the apex court as quite unfortunate . It is a technical ambush against the trial of the former governor. The Commission is prepared for a fresh...

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11Apr By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Nigerian Government Ignores El-Zakzaky, To Pardon Orji Kalu, Other Ex-Governors Jailed For Stealing Public Funds

The Nigerian Government appears to have ignored leader of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria in its latest pardon of prisoners in the country. On Thursday, Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said government was freeing 2,600 inmates in various prisons in a bid to curb the spread of Coronavirus in the country. According to Aregbesola, inmates including those from 60 years and above, especially those suffering from ill-health likely to end in death, serving at least three years and have less than six months to serve, persons with mental issues, and with options of fine not exceeding N50,000, are among those to be considered for the state pardon. “This amnesty will not apply to inmates sentenced for violent and extreme offences such as terrorism, kidnapping, armed banditry, rape, ...

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18Dec By dthataNo Comments

Politics

EFCC Opposes Orji Kalu’s Plea For Bail After Conviction

Convicted Senator and former Governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, on Tuesday prayed a Federal High Court in Lagos to grant him bail from the Ikoyi Custodial Centre pending determination of an appeal against his conviction. Justice Mohammed Idris had convicted Kalu and sentenced him to a concurrent jail term of 12 years for N7.2 billion fraud. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted Kalu together with a former Commissioner for Finance in Abia State, Jones Udeogo, and Kalu’s company, Slok Nig. Ltd. They were charged on an amended 39 counts of fraud. The trial, which started in 2007, recorded some set backs but eventually ended in October 2019 when parties in the suit adopted written submissions. On Dec. 5, the judge found all the three defendants guilty. ...

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17Dec By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Orji Kalu Seeks Post-Conviction Bail, Cites Health Challenges

A former governor of Abia State, Orji Kalu, who was on December 5 convicted of N7.1bn fraud and sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment, has urged the court to grant him a post-conviction bail. Kalu, who has since been taken to the prison after conviction, said in an application on Tuesday that he is battling serious health challenges that the medical facilities in the prison cannot handle. He said since the offences he was convicted of were bailable offences, the court should free him while he challenges his conviction by Justice Mohammed Idris at the Court of Appeal. He also stressed that as the Chief Whip of the Senate and the senator representing Abia North Senatorial District the interest of his constituents would be in jeopardy if he was kept behind bars. The Economic and...

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5Dec By Czar Owolabi MarcusNo Comments

News

Please, don’t handcuff me, convicted ex-gov Kalu begs warders

Former Abia State Governor, Orji Kalu, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for fraud, pleaded with officials of the Nigeria Correctional Service not to handcuff him in public. Kalu, who appeared shaken, said, “Where are you taking us to now? Please don’t handcuff me. I will follow you.” A short while earlier, Kalu wiped tears from his eyes with a white handkerchief as Justice Idris Mohammed Idris began reading an abridged version of the 228-page judgment, a report by TheNation said. 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 Mohammed. The case began in 2007, 12 years ago, when they were first arraigned for the offences but before a different judge. In...

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5Dec By Czar Owolabi MarcusNo Comments

Crime

Court Finds Orji Kalu Guilty Of N7.1bn Fraud

The Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted a former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu, who was charged with N7.1bn fraud, according to a report by Punch. Recall that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) prosecuted Kalu and a former Commissioner for Finance in the state, Ude Udeogo for fraud. They also charged Kalu alongside his company, Slok Nig. Ltd. In the charge brought against the defendants, the EFCC alleged that they committed the alleged offenses between August 2001 and October 2005. It said that Kalu utilized his company’s account to retain N200 million in First Inland bank (now First City Monument Bank). The commission claimed that the sum formed part of funds illegally derived from the coffers of the Abia State Government. In one of the ...

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16Nov By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Orji Kalu Lectures Senate, FG On Agriculture, Makes Reference To Ogbomosho Mango

Chief Whip of the Senate , Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has called on the Federal Government to focus on the establishment of processing mini - industries in every state of the Federation to boost the Agricultural Sector of the economy. The former Governor expressed that the mini - industries would ensure that cash crops like cashew, groundnut etc were processed into products thus creating a value chain for export and employment in the Agricultural sector. Senator Kalu (Abia-North) who is also the Vice-chairman of the Senate committee Banking,Insurance and other financial institutions, commended the Federal Government's efforts in building Silos (storage facilities) across the country, he however pointed that most of them were not being put into use. These formed part of Senator Kalu'...

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17Aug By dthataNo Comments

Politics

2023: No End To Zoning Until South/North East Produce President – Orji Kalu

The Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, has cautioned the northern political elite against canvassing an end to rotational presidency as from 2023. Kalu, a two-term governor of Abia State, stated this in an interview with our correspondent in Abuja following the call by the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir el-Rufai, for an end to power shift in the country. He maintained that nobody should canvass an end to power shift until the South-East and the North-East geopolitical zones had produced the President of Nigeria. The principal officer of the senate noted that the agreement at the end of the 1978 national conference was that all the major ethnic groups in Nigeria must produce the President on a rotational basis. He said, “Calling for an end to the zoning arrangement n...

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30Mar By dthataNo Comments

Politics

“Evans Should Join APC And His Sins Will Be Forgiven” – Reno Omokri

Former presidential aide, Reno Omokri says popular kidnapper, Evans should join APC so for his sins to be forgiven. Gistvic Reports. Reno also said Evans should learn from Godswill Akpabio, Orji Kalu, Governor UmarGanduje and Maina. He wrote: "I don’t know what Evans the kidnapper is waiting for. Can’t he learn from Godswill Akpabio, Orji Kalu, Governor UmarGanduje and Maina? Evans should join APC, and play the Game of Thrones by bending the knee to Muhammadu Buhari of Kings Landing, and his sins will be forgiven. He can even contest for Senate President."

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1Mar By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Abia North: Sen. Ohuabunwa, PDP rejects INEC’s declaration Of Orji Kalu As Winner

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abia State has rejected the result of Senatorial election conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Abia North Senatorial Zone. INEC had declared former governor Orji Kalu winner of the election. In an meeting of the State Working Committee presided over by State Chairman, Sir Johnson Onuigbo, PDP said “after a critical review of the election, including unlawful manipulations and unjustifiable cancellations, concluded that, at best, the election was inconclusive and should be so declared by INEC”. The party said, Rule 33(e) of INEC Regulations and Guidelines For The Conduct Of Elections, 2019, stipulates that where the number of cancelled votes outnumber the difference in vote of a ‘leading candidate’, such elect...

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12Nov By dthataNo Comments

Politics

Court Revokes Orji Kalu’s Bail, Orders Arrest

A Federal high court in Ikoyi has revoked the bail it granted a former governor of Abia state, Orji Uzor Kalu in a 7.5 billion fraud trial he is currently facing. PoliticsNGR learned that the Presiding Judge, Mohammed Idris retracted the bail conditions granted to Kalu in 2007 and ordered that the EFCC should effect his arrest if he fails to submit himself to the anti-graft agency on arrival into the country. The Judge said; "I have perused the proceedings from court records and I discovered that one of the conditions for granting bail to the 1st defendant, who happens to be Orji Uzor Kalu, is that he should deposit his international passport with the court and the permission must be granted before he can travel outside the country for whatever reason. "It is clear that the 1st ...

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31Jul By BobbyNo Comments

Politics

What Will Happen To Those Responsible For Killings – Presidency

The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina on Thursday said those responsible for the tension in different parts of the country will never win. Adesina stated this when he received members of Junior Chamber International (JCI), Ikoyi, and Orji Kalu Foundation, who were at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday, as part of a Peace Rally. NAN quoted the presidential aide saying:“For those working against peace in our country, I have news for them. They will never win. “Nigeria will have peace, and if the evildoers don’t settle for peace, that peace will be attained without them. “Whether they like it or not, peace will return to Nigeria inspite of the difficult times we are passing through now.’’ He commended t...

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30Jan By raymonNo Comments

News

Igbo Presidency: ‎ Aisha Blasts SGF Mustapha

Aisha Yesufu the co-convener of Bring Back Our Girls Group has condemned the statement credited to Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha over Igbo presidency.   Mustapha, had hinted that President Muhammadu Buhari will run in 2019.   Also, in reaction to Orji Kalu’s statement that Igbos have decided to give 75 percent votes to President Buhari in 2019, he said the shortest path to Igbo presidency was after Buhari’s second term.   Aisha in reaction accused the government of having a turn by turn mentality.   She described the action of politicians in Nigeria as unbelievable.   On her twitter page, she wrote “Did I just hear the SGF say the shortest route to Igbo getting 2023 Presidency is to support Buhari’s se...

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9Jan By raymonNo Comments

News

2019: Kalu Gives Reasons Why Igbos Must Support Buhari’s Second Term Bid

Orji Kalu, former Governor of Abia State, has urged Igbos to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari if they want to produce a president after 2019. The All Progressives Congress, APC, Chieftain gave the call while throwing his weight behind Buhari’s reportedly second term bid. Speaking with journalists, in his Camp Neya country home, in the state, the former governor maintained that the president means well for the state and the South East at large. He commended Buhari for the successes the recorded and the reforms his administration has introduced since assuming power, adding that he, Kalu is committed towards ensuring the re-election of the president in 2019. Kalu further commended the president for the ongoing fight against corruption, insurgency and also seeing that the co...

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6Nov By ZIHONo Comments

News

I will Succeed Buhari As President – Ex-Governor Orji Kalu

A former governor of Abia State and chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Orji Uzor Kalu, has stated that Igbos don’t need anything else but Nigeria’s presidency. Kalu said this yesterday in Umuahia during the annual harvest of St. Peter’s Presbyterian Church. He declared that he would be found in Aso Rock come 2023 when, according to him, President Muhammadu Buhari will handover to an Igboman. He said the future of the Igbo in Nigeria politics is brighter now in APC than ever before, insisting that producing an Igbo president is a task every true Igbo indigene must key into, just as he noted that APC is the best platform to achieve the dream. “The future of Ndigbo is brightest today in APC. Once Buhari finishes his second tenure, I am assuring you that either...

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1Oct By raymonNo Comments

News, Sport

Nnamdi Kanu Is In London, He Went Through Malaysia — Orji Kalu

The Igbo should strive towards producing a president in the Federal Republic of Nigeria instead of agitating for the sovereign state of Biafra. I was the governor (of Abia State) for eight years and the issue of Biafra came up then. It even became a serious issue at a time that I decided to lead (Ralph) Uwazurike to see (former) President (Olusegun) Obasanjo but the former president refused to receive him. I was then surprised that the same Obasanjo was advising President Muhammadu Buhari to dialogue with (Nnamdi) Kanu. That sounds very funny to my ears and I don’t believe that such statement could come from the respected elder statesman who once told me at the Villa that he will never engage in a dialogue with somebody who wanted Nigeria to break up. There are so many federal roads in the...

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11Dec By Czar Owolabi MarcusNo Comments

News

Orji Uzor Kalu Urges Ndigbos to Join APC

Former governor of Abia state, Orji Kalu says it is more beneficial for the South-East to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), in order to benefit from being in the mainstream national politics. Kalu, who recently joined the party, said this during an interaction with journalists at his ‘Camp Neya’ country home at Igbere in Bende Local Government Area of the state. He said that the victories recorded by APC in the Edo and Ondo general elections proved that the APC had become acceptable to Nigerians. He, therefore, argued that the people of the South-East would benefit more if they quit the opposition camp and stood with the decision makers in the ruling party. “Ndigbo should join APC to enable them to sit where other Nigerians are seated to decide on how to move the nation for...

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