A group, under the auspices of Abia Network Against Corruption has called on the federal government to continue the arraignment of former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu over corruption charges levelled against him.

The group noted that the present administration have made significant efforts towards fight against corruption, but the untidy trial of Kanu calls for question.

Addressing journalists yesterday in Abuja, the National Coordinator of the group, Mr. Maxi Onyeze said Kalu should be in jail as restitution for looting the resources of Abia State.
According to him, "It is on record that the administration have made significant progress in his anti-corruption crusade. President Muhammadu Buhari won his election on the pledge that he would tackle the cankerworm of corruption; we are relying on his promises to make Nigeria better.

THE STATEMENT

President MuhammaduBuhari won his election on the pledge that he would tackle the cankerworm of corruption. His body language initially when he came to power was zero tolerance for corruption. It is on record that the administration have made significant progress in his anti-corruption crusade, but the untidy trial of the former governor of Abia State, Orji UzorKalu(1999 to 2007) over7.6 billion naira fraud perpetrated while in office between 1999 to 2007 calls to question the sincerity and purposefulness of President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade.

While Orji UzorKalu was granted bail by the courts, he jumped it,claiming ill-health and subsequentlyevaded justice and ran to Germany. Suddenly, heclandestinely returned backto the country to plan and contest the Abia North Senatorial District Election. Media reports have it that this fugitive Orji Uzor Kalu, a man that jumped bail and went ahead to contest the Abia North Senatorial District Election, subverted electoral process and had himself declared winner in the just concluded National Assembly Election. As a pressure group, committed to the interests of Abia citizens, Abia Network Against Corruption - as a matter of fair justice, hereby call on the authorities and security agencies involved in this mess, to as a matter of urgency bring Orji Uzo Kalu back to book for massively pillaging the resources of the people of Abia State while in office as the Executive Governor of the state, otherwise we as concerned citizens will be seen as rewarding and condoning high level of irresponsibility in governance

President Muhammadu Buhari should put his valued integrity on the line, and prove his sincerity and commitment to his anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria by supporting and bringing Orji Uzor Kalu and such other related offenders to book without further delay. He should not allow his lieutenants to derail his onerous campaign to clean the Augean stable in Nigeria.

Orji Uzor Kalu should be properly and quickly tried through due court process available equally to all offenders, and if found guilty, put in jail as restitution for looting the resources of Abia State. It is an affront to the good people of Abia North Senatorial District to be once again saddled with a leader who is docked for raping and stealing their common patrimony. Such a man is not worthy to lead, not to talk about hiding withinthe wings andmight of a ruling political party to subvert the process to represent a wounded and injured state at the National Assembly.

Finally, we as a group concerned with fighting corruption in support of President Buhari, we wish to admonish all the concerned Authorities to speedily bring Orji Uzor Kalu to book, even if he has succeeded in rigging himself in and collecting the certificate of returns for Abia North Senatorial District, with the belief that it will confer on him immunity from prosecution on his pending crime in court. We note the gravity of this infraction, especially at a time when the former Governor of Plateau State, Senator Joshua Dariye is languishing in Kuje prison for similar and related offence. It does not speak well of our nation and our justice system for Orji Uzor Kalu to be treated like a sacred cow!

Abia-Network Against Corruption maintains that Abia State is one of the least-developed state in Nigeria today because people like Orji Uzor Kalu - a former governor of Abia State, entrenched the culture of rabid and irrepressible corruption on the state. We find this intolerable and request that relevant authorities, security agencies and other concerned citizens join in condemning this partiality and injustice in the brazen act of corruption, by bring Oji Uzor Kalu to face trail in Court without further delays!

Signed by MrMaxi Onyeze
National Coordinator