Orji Kalu weeps at Senate valedictory session, recalls prison sentence in 2019
Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, broke down weeping on Saturday as he recalled his experience in the past four years as a member of the upper chamber of the National National Assembly.
Kalu, a former governor of Abia Starw spoke at at the valedictory session to signal the end of legislative activities, which began on June 11, 2019. The former governor became emotional when he recalled that soon after he was jailed after he became a Senator during which he spent about a year in Kuje prison.
Kalu was in December 2019 sentenced to 12 years in prison for N7.65 billion he allegedly stole from Abia State when he was governor.
He 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 his tenure as governor.
However, he was set free on May 8, 2020 when the Supreme Court ordered a retrial of the case.
Recalling his prison experience during the valedictory session on Saturday, Kalu thanked his colleagues for giving him unalloyed support as Chief Whip for four years.
He also thanked his colleagues who visited him while in prison.
Orji-Kalu said his election to the Senate gave him a better opportunity to continue to fight for a united Nigeria.
He stressed that he was not a thief before he took to politics, saying that he never lacked anything and had the ability to buy anything money could buy.
He said he brought money in 1997 and 1998 to fund and support the formation of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before he became governor, stressing that he was never a thief.
The former governor said those who put him in prison had their reasons to do so, adding that they also took over his businesses.
According to him, Nigeria is not fair to people like him.
He said he built factories and manufacturing companies to employ Nigerians and all he got was to be labelled a thief.
Present at the session were Vice-President Kashim Shettima, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, Malam Ibrahim Hadejia, Deputy Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu and Gov. Uba Sani of Kaduna State.
Also in attendance were the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom, Dr Akon Eyakenyi and former Deputy Governor of Zamfara, Alhaji Hassan Muhammadu.
They were members of the ninth Senate, before their election into new positions on March 18.
The former lawmakers were ushered into the chamber following a motion to suspend senate order as moved by Leader of the Senate, Abdullahi Gobir (APC-Sokoto).
Before the session, senators present were presented with certificates of service and a copy of the Legacy Report of the ninth Senate each.
Clerk to the National Assembly, Alhaji Sani Tambuwal, presented certificates to the Senate President, Sen. Ahmad Lawan and Deputy Senate President, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege.