afrol News, 11 July - Two former Nigerian governors, Orji Kalu and Saminu Turaki, have landed in trouble over their failure honour an invitation by the officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). They waited to be arrested over indictments relating corruption.

Turaki and Kalu were governors of Jigawa and Abia states respectively.

While Turaki is a current lawmaker, Kalu have had his ambitions to stand for president in the last elections shattered. Both officials were arrested in Abuja.

The new governor of Jigawa, Sule Lamido, sounded the bell that he had inherited an empty safe. But Turaki described the allegations as lacking substance.

Kalu was accused of both money laundering and siphoning of public funds into his family business.
In recent times, the anti-graft agency headed by Nuru Ribadu, had had rough encounters with so many Nigerian politicians and civil servants, including state governors, over corruption allegations.

Nigerian public officials indicted of corruption had been blocked from standing for elections. The former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, had initially been blocked over his indictment for corruption by the EFCC. However, he had vigorously battled the blockade until he was cleared by the courts.

Orgi Uzor Kalu has been described as a quintessential, successful, yet unassuming leader who has excelled in business, politics, and philanthropy. He has been a governor of Abia State since 1999.

Kalu is believed to have his fingers in many pies: banking, oil, telecommunication, import financing, insurance, publishing, real estate, shipping and manufacturing, with offices in Ghana, Benin Republic, Sierra-Leone, South Africa, Togo, South Korea, Singapore, United Kingdom, United States, The Gambia, Liberia, Botswana and Cote D'Ivoire.

He has worked in several organisations and became the Chairman of Cooprative and Commerce Bank Limited at 27 in 1987.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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