Orji Uzor Kalu, a former Abia State Governor and Senate Chief Whip on Thursday, pleaded with Prison warders at a Federal High Court in Lagos not to handcuff him.
YaahooJournalist had reported earlier that Justice Mohammad Idris of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court, sentenced Kalu to 12 years in prison for fraud.
After Justice Idris pronounced the 12-year jail sentence and warders moved towards Kalu with handcuffs, the former Abia Governor pleaded with them.
As he was led out of the courtroom by Correctional Services officials after his sentencing, Kalu was seen, asking prison warders, “where are you taking us to?”
Kalu then begged the prison warders not to handcuff him in public.
The former governor, who appeared shaken, said, “Where are you taking us to now? Please don’t handcuff me. I will follow you.”
It was learned that the former governor wiped tears from his eyes with a white handkerchief as Justice Mohammed Idris began reading an abridged version of the 228-page judgment.
Kalu was convicted for N7.1 billion fraud by Justice Idris, who also ordered that Kalu’s company, Slok Nigeria Limited, be liquidated and its assets forfeited to the federal government.
The former governor stood trial on a 39-count charge brought against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
This online news platform understands that Kalu, Slok Nigeria Limited, and Udeh Udeogu, a former director of finance and accounts in Abia, Southeast Nigeria, were accused of diverting N7.65 billion from the purse of the state government.
Senator Kalu is also accused of illegally taking N460 million from Abia’s treasury.