The spokesperson of the Senate, Godiya Akwashiki has said that the convicted Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Kalu, will continue to get his salaries and all other entitlements while in prison. Godiya made this information available to IgbereTV on Sunday.

He said despite the conviction, Mr Kalu remains a sitting senator and will be paid all of his entitlements in full.

He said until the case gets to Surpeme Court and a final judgement is given, Mr Kalu remains a serving lawmaker.

“He is still a senator. This is the first court. The matter is going to Supreme Court so, he still has the opportunity to appeal up to the Supreme Court level.

“Of course they will pay him. Because he is a sitting senator just like I said…if you file for appeal, you are still serving and so they will pay you.

“All his entitlements will be paid. There is no cause for alarm. In fact, even if Court of Appeal says they have upheld the judgement of the lower court, he still has the right to go to Supreme Court. So once the Supreme Court says, yes, the judgement is okay, then that’s the final,” he explained.

He explained that no provision in the constitution that says the seat of any senator facing prosecution or convicted at a lower court should be declared vacant.

Mr Kalu’s seat will not be declared vacant except he (Mr Kalu) has explored all the legal options available to him without success, he said.

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday sentenced Mr Kalu to 12 years in prison after convicting him of N7.65 billion fraud.

The conviction comes 12 years after the ex-governor was first arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in 2007 and 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 Mr Kalu’s tenure as governor.

Meanwhile, Orji Uzo Kalu's lawyer, Victor Otie, Esq., who spoke with IgbereTV in a telephone interview maintained that the conviction is ill-advised and will be appealed from the Appeal Court up to the Supreme Court. He insisted that there was no cause for alarm.


http://igberetvnews.com/1184971/senate-orji-kalu-will-get-full-salaries-allowances-prison/

Can you imagine this sick country.

A thief can even be in jail and be a part of the lawmakers promulgating laws for the non-thieves.

Very confusing and annoying at the same time.

Messed up system and country.

Good move!

Which business pass politics.. just imagine making more money in prison. Chai...

OUK looted Abia dry. I doubt if he needs further salaries, entitlements and allowances.


Life is sweet. Him go still jail dey receive alert. Is that not wonderful?

Na dis scam Constitution labour organization ,civil rights organization, humanitarian organization, NIGERIANS supposed protest against. We need to tear and burn this scam Constitution wey dis people dey take scam us and draft new one. Na dem for government the scam Constitution dey pay and favor that's why dem no go wan do anytin to change am. Even if Jesus come down from heaven and still use dis same Constitution na still ZERO!

Under Buhari the man of integrity and his rubber stamped Senate President

soo,even if he is not workin he still gets paid....??

what type of nonesense be that....??

I don't know why we are emotional about this,he is still a serving Senator,he has the right to appeal the case till the Supreme court.I am still in shock by the shoddy job his lawyer did. The only thing I see here is man running business while in office, which might allude certain privileges to himself and his company. All they should have done initially is to file a no case submission, but if they saw there was no way out ,they should have gone to the Efcc and negotiate a plea bargain. Anyway I sure hope Jagaban made some arrangements to be sending him good meals through his minister of interior,after all he is our guess.

daddytime:
Can you imagine this sick country.

A thief can even be in jail and be a part of the lawmakers promulgating laws for the non-thieves.

Very confusing and annoying at the same time.

Messed up system and country.

These are very grey areas of the Constitution that needs amendment but the unpatrotic elements in NASS will avoid it cos it affects them.

uruba23:
I don't know why we are emotional about this,he is still a serving Senator,he has the right to appeal the case till the Supreme court.I am still in shock by the shoddy job his lawyer did. The only thing I see here is man running business while in office, which might allude certain privileges to himself and his company. All they should have done initially is to file a no case submission, but if they saw there was no way out ,they should have gone to the Efcc and negotiate a plea bargain. Anyway I sure hope Jagaban made some arrangements to be sending him good meals through his minister of interior,after all he is our guess.

kalu was with same jagaban few days before. I'm sure kalu knew his fate before hand having failed to negotiate a soft landing.

parte after parte

uruba23:
I don't know why we are emotional about this,he is still a serving Senator,he has the right to appeal the case till the Supreme court.I am still in shock by the shoddy job his lawyer did. The only thing I see here is man running business while in office, which might allude certain privileges to himself and his company. All they should have done initially is to file a no case submission, but if they saw there was no way out ,they should have gone to the Efcc and negotiate a plea bargain. Anyway I sure hope Jagaban made some arrangements to be sending him good meals through his minister of interior,after all he is our guess.

Orji first filed a no-case submission but it was thrown out and told he has a case to answer.

LabDNA:


Orji first filed a no-case submission but it was thrown out and told he has a case to answer.

okay thank you for the info.

Gandollaar:
kalu was with same jagaban few days before. I'm sure kalu knew his fate before hand having failed to negotiate a soft landing.

hmmm i hope he hasn't scammed the Venezuelan President and went to hide in prison ,only to tell him all his asset were siezed,because i don't think he would be that, for lack of words stupid not to negotiate .