The Senate Whip and former Governor of Abia State, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu broke down in tears on Saturday at the valedictory session of the 9th assembly, while recanting his experience in prison, for the ‘unfair’ treatment, meted on him and his four-year term as a member of the National assembly.
Kalu who was sentenced in December 2019
for 12 years at kuje prison for N7.65 billion he allegedly stole as governor in Abia State.
He was tried alongside his company, Slok Nigeria Limited, and Udeh Udeogu, then Director of Finance and Accounts at the Abia State Government House. he was later freed on May 8, 2020 when the Supreme Court ordered a retrial of the case.
Uzor-kalu who warned prior warned that his speech might be teary shared on how he helped build the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), according to him “Before I came into politics, I could buy anything money can buy. I’m not a thief. Those that put me in prison know the reason. They took over my businesses and wanted to kill me yet I survived it and I’m in the senate with you.
“I have never lacked, while I was in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where I served for two terms as governor, I brought the money that they used in forming that party, every penny, in 1997 and 1998, and I later became a thief.
While appreciating those who stood by him in prison and for the uninterrupted support over the four-year period in the assembly , Uzor stressed that, this is what the Nigerian Spirit represents.
