Mixed reactions from two political party chieftains in Abia greeted Thursday’s judgment of a Lagos High Court, which sentenced the Senate Chief Whip and former Abia governor, Sen. Orji Kalu, to 12 years in prison over N7.65 billion fraud.

The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in the state, Donatus Nwankpa, said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that he was disappointed and angry with the judgment.

Mr Nwankpa, who was a member of the Abia House of Assembly when Mr Kalu was governor, said that the judgment was not fair.

“The party will meet to take a position on the judgment but as an individual, I am very saddened by the judgment.

“I am not convinced that judgment was given,” he said, adding that the court’s verdict sustained his doubts about the integrity and objectivity of the nation’s judiciary.

Mr Nwankpa said that he never had the confidence that Mr Kalu would get judgment, “considering the utterances of the judge.”

“I’m highly convinced that something went wrong. The judgment is not fair,” he said.

Conversely, the Chairman, Inter-Party Advisory Council in Abia, Ceekay Igara, described the judgment as “good precedence.”

According to him, “if Kalu was found wanting as governor of the state, he should face judgment.

“It is a normal thing and goes to prove that nobody is above the law.”

Mr Igara, who is the state Chairman of the Labour Party, said that the judgment was supposed to teach two lessons.

He said, “The first lesson for those who are in government and second for others who intend to take over is that whatever they do, there is always a judgment day.”

Maduka Okoro, the South-East Media Aide to Mr Kalu, told NAN that Mr Kalu would appeal the judgment “to allow other judges and a higher court take another look at the case.”

Mr Okoro said that Kalu was not bothered by the judgment but considered it as one of the travails that every leader must experience “before becoming what God wants him to be.”

He expressed optimism that the judgment would be reversed by a higher court, adding that Mr Kalu would be acquitted at last.

He said that as governor, Mr Kalu administered Abia transparently and never defrauded the state.

Kalu was Abia governor from 1999 to 2007 and won election to the Senate in the 2019 election, after three attempts. (NAN)

fergie001:
Nwankpa is an OUK lackey. He has no mind of his own. Ever since he was taken off the Govt by Thief After Orji, his house at Nwankpa close, off EzeNwagbara roundabout hasn't seen an extra block.

Only to impregnate married women and spend on booze is all he knows.

Second base ojare....meet koo? meter nyii....

sweetonugbu:
you know him very well

fergie001:

Very.....he is lucky his most senior brother (now late) is a good man.

sweetonugbu:
the crop of politicians that Abia state produces makes me weak, Sharp knives but no head(handle) ,the ones with head is blunt.

Dreal1247:
I perceive, the people with presidential ambition from the East are being crippled to pave way for some persons. My thoughts though.

Dreal1247:
I perceive, the people with presidential ambition from the East are being crippled to pave way for some persons. My thoughts though.

Mr Okoro said that Kalu was not bothered by the judgment but considered it as one of the travails that every leader must experience “before becoming what God wants him to be.”

He said that as governor, Mr Kalu administered Abia transparently and never defrauded the state.

Honor10:


Your thought is not only useless but senseless as well. Are u not the same people that do say anyone in APC is a new creature? Now this one is paying for his sins now, u are crying again. May ur wailing never end. As if OUK stand any chance of presidency in the first place. Mtcheew.

Dreal1247:
I perceive, the people with presidential ambition from the East are being crippled to pave way for some persons. My thoughts though.

AkeNathan:
The Abia APC state chairman who said this, is very stupid.

This Governor stole your state dry, a whole N7 billion.

7 Billion in 2005 is like 15Billion naira today, due to inflation.

And yet you are saddened over the conviction and want to rally for his release.

And this man and others, are the reasons for infrastructural deficit in Abia state. Yet you are rallying for him.

The entire Igbo states spit on Abia politicians and her people for allowing a rot fester for over 20 years since 1999.

Cherrybae1:
Orji Uzor Kalu is APC in Abia and Apc is Orji Kalu,
as far as Kalu is jailed APC is dead In Abia State.
mark this word.......

Cherrybae1:
IPOB is about to declare Tinubu wanted in the whole South East, if they set their eyes on ...........Secret

Cherrybae1:
Tinubu is behind this setup,
and he must pay for it