Stephen Aya l Friday, December 06, 2019
LAGOS, Nigeria – When on August 22, 2018 the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Umar Faruq conferred the traditional title of ‘’Danbaiwan-Hausa’’ on the former governor of Abia, Orji Uzor Kalu “in recognition of his efforts toward the development of Abia and Nigeria at large”, keen followers of his case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) summed up that the case which started in 2007 would be quashed in favour of the former governor.
The monarch, on that occasion described Kalu as a peace promoter, noting that the title has made him the representative of the Hausa in the entire Igbo land in the country.
‘’We appreciate your contributions to the business sector in Nigeria and your efforts in peace building for the good of community.We also appreciate the love you have for our son; I urge you to continue your campaigns for President Muhammadu Buhari,’’ the Monarch said.
The Emir said that throughout the Hausa land, it is only the Daura Emirate that can confer that title to anybody, which means a ‘’Gifted son of Hausa Kingdom.’’
When the former governor flew the flag of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last election and won a seat in the red chamber of the National Assembly the same observers concluded that Kalu will be left off the EFCC hook on account of his dinning and winning with the “Lords”.
When Kalu was appointed Chief Whip of the Senate sometime in June when the leadership of the distinguished Senate were being elected, it was said that, the former governor was as free as the bird in the air….as he has joined the “untouchables” in government.
When the former governor said a couple of weeks ago that, “I almost lost my political career supporting PDP. That won’t happen again” many felt he was speaking for the party that brought him to the senate and the interests of his new friends.
But a cup of ice cold water has been poured on this wrong notion held by these people by Justice Idris Mohammed who sentenced Kalu to 12 years in prison for fraudulent act of embezzling a whopping seven billion naira alongside his company Slok Group.
Kalu has now joined the duo of Jolly Nyame of Taraba and Joshua Dariye of Plateau who were jailed for 14 years each over similar offence.
Kalu may head for the Court of Appeal to seek redress. But legal experts say, the best he can get from the Appealate court is for his sentence to be reduced just like Dariye and Nyame got 10 years each from the Appeal Court as against the 14 years they were slammed respectively by the Federal High Courts.
Indeed, the war against corruption is real. It is a whirlwind! There should not be any sacred cow in this renewed onslaught by the EFCC on those who misappropriated public funds and ran for cover under or in the governing party.
