Continued from Part 1

False in one thing, false in everything (Legal Maxim)
Show me a liar, and I'll show thee a thief (George Herbert)
And he that does one fault at first, and lies to hide it, makes it two. (Isaac Watts)
Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle that fits them all. (Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr.)
By a lie a man throws away and, as it were, annihilates his dignity as a man. (Immanuel Kant)
You never gain from telling lies; the truth wears no disguise (Whispers, one of the best musical groups in the 1970s and 80s)

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planned to make this part of the article the concluding part of it, but, as things stand now, I am not sure that will be the best thing to do. Because, we may not have heard the last from these two men that refused to grow up or respect themselves. Even Kalu's mother has joined the fray with her usual antics; she is a kind of person that will proverbial "cut inside the bush and run into the road and ask: Who is cutting in the bush?" We know the stuff she is also made of.

The two shameless liars have decided to let the beats go on and on and on, we have no choice other than to continue listening to their cacophonies.

The altercation between Atiku and Kalu is now getting on to a new pedestal every passing day.

The Sun Newspapers of Tuesday, February 24, 2009 with the caption "Atiku is a chameleon -Kalu" wrote that Orji Uzor Kalu took a swipe at Abubakar Atiku, describing him as inconsistent and a chameleon. Atiku had earlier, cast aspersions on Kalu, calling him a "political liability" and unfit to question his visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. But here, Kalu questioned the ex-vice-president's record in office, as well as his credentials for his much desired presidential seat.

Kalu here also regretted that the ex-VP's unstable, and self-serving approach to leadership casts a slur on his suitability for the seat of the president, adding that it was regrettable that Atiku, who lives in the proverbial glass house, is the one throwing stones when he should actually be burying his face in shame and ignominy.

Kalu also alleged that on several occasions, Atiku had abandoned the collective cause of the people, and his followers, midstream to go cozy with the common enemy. Explaining further, that "Atiku cannot keep to promises. That, that was why he refused to follow him to the Action Congress (AC). That Atiku is always changing and changing again like a chameleon.

Before the Papers that wrote Kalu's version of the altercation could hit the news-stand, Atiku's camp released a swift and ferocious rebuttal thereby deepening the altercation. I received the original copy of Atiku's rebuttal. What the Sun Newspapers of Wednesday, February 25, 2009 with the caption "Atiku replies Kalu: I did not betray anybody" published, is only an incomplete copy of the release. The Paper might have omitted parts of the release to protect Kalu, who is the owner of the Publishing House because "he, who pays the piper, dictates the tune". I will work on the original copy I receive here. The Atiku Media Office at Jabi, Abuja, in its release captioned "KALU IS A JESTER- ATIKU CAMPAIGN" reacted to what it called a litany of false and malicious allegations levelled against Atiku Abubakar. The Media Office dismissed Orji Uzo Kalu of Abia State as a jester and a chronic liar who should not be taken seriously.

Kalu, on his own part condemned Atiku's lily-livered approach to leadership, a quality, he said made Atiku unsuitable for the Presidency. In Kalu's words: "It was Atiku's chameleonic attitude that gave birth to the People Progressive Alliance (PPA). I could not have followed him. He failed us in 2003. He has done it again in 2009. It is a question of time before Nigerians chose between both of us who is credible".

In the first part of this article, Kalu said that Atiku failed the progressives in 2003. I wonder if Kalu is counting himself as among the progressives. Then he must have mistaken those that progressed in lies, looting of public funds, fraud, forgery and deceit as the political progressives.

Atiku through his Media Office said Kalu is someone who has made a life long career of fraud and chicanery and should therefore not be taken seriously. It described kalu as a loose cannon who does not have a firm control of his mouth.

Kalu went on to say that he knew Atiku would abandon the AC cause midstream, just like he abandoned some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors prior to the 2003 presidential elections. That many of them had stuck out their necks for Atiku. Projected him ahead of Obasanjo and attracted the wrath of the vindictive president but according to him, Atiku struck his own deal and abandoned all of them to their fate.

The Atiku Media Office said, although it did not want to be held down in the gutter with Kalu, it could not ignore some of the issues Kalu has put in the public domain and has therefore been compelled to make the following clarifications:

That Atiku is convinced that he has done the right thing by reconciling with his former boss, Olusegun Obasanjo. Because forgiveness is one of the tenets of both Islam and Christianity. That Atiku has never betrayed any of his friends or political associates. That Atiku's loyalty to his political mentor, Shehu Musa Yar'Adua before and after his death, is a good testimony to this. That Atiku's decision to support the then President Obasanjo's second term bid in January 2003 was taken after due consultation with the PDP governors and other stakeholders. That the decision was motivated primarily by the need to preserve the delicate ethno-religious balance in the country which would have been upset had power shifted to the north in 2003 after being held by a southerner for only four years.

Insisting that Atiku has a penchant for betrayal, Kalu, then challenged him to a debate on national television. This writer wonders what kalu will be able to say in a national debate; unless the debate will be conducted in pidgin English or the questions and answers prepared for kalu in advance only for him to come out and recite everything verbatim.

The Daily Independent Newspapers of Thursday, February 26, 2009 with the caption "Orji Kalu on the offensive" wrote an interesting remark, when it quoted an activist-lawyer, Bamidele Aturu as having said: "They are birds of a feather. I don't take any of these politicians seriously. The truth is that even tomorrow; Orji Kalu himself can go and align with Obasanjo. And I think Nigerians must be very careful when they listen to statements coming from politicians because all of them are looking out for any avenue to further their interest. The point is that Kalu is not operating from any moral high ground. It is Nigerians that are suffering in the process because the politicians will always align and re-align as far as their own basic interests are satisfied. They are the same".

Kalu further took on Atiku over his allegation that he, Kalu, aborted the formation of a mega party because of his vaulting ambition, and his alleged description of him as a political featherweight and jester. Kalu said it was left for Nigerians to choose between him and Atiku, who is more credible and acceptable.

Then Atiku wrote: "it is not for Atiku to tell Nigerians who is Orji Kalu. Nigerians know Orji Kalu, and they know who is who. End of discussion!"

Dismissing Atiku's description of him as a political liability, kalu raised posers: "Now that Atiku is a political asset, how come he did not begin by winning his state, Adamawa? Why is PDP controlling his state of Adamawa, down to the wards, while me, a political featherweight, according to him, I am able to help put together a party that is now controlling two states. A totally new party! Incidentally the same PDP that Atiku claims manipulated him out of Adamawa deployed even more intimidating machinery to Abia and we, withstood them".

Atiku replied by saying: "It is mischievous to seek to use the widely discredited 2007 elections as a measure of any politician's standing. The Court of Appeal judgement in Ondo state two days ago is the latest proof of how INEC connived with fraudulent politicians to install losers as winners in various states".

This writer will contribute to the debate here by telling Kalu that his party took those two states through the back door. PDP handed him Imo state on a platter when it withdrew its support for Ifeanyi Ararume, its gubernatorial flag bearer in the state at the last minute. And by INEC surreptitiously cancelling the election Agbaso of AGPA was set to win, because Maurice Iwu of INEC wants his kinsman, Mr Ohakim, (from Mbano) to be the governor. Now a court has ruled that INEC´s action then is challengeable.

ThisDay Newspapers of Feb. 27, 2009 captioned "A' Court Assumes Jurisdiction" wrote:

"The Court of Appeal, Abuja, handed out a verdict that the power exercised by INEC to cancel the April 14, 2007 gubernatorial election in Imo State was challengeable in law court.

The appellate court, therefore, assumed jurisdiction on the poll annulment and asked the electoral body and the sitting Governor, Ikedi Ohakim, to appear before it on March 23 to defend the election cancellation.

The April 14, 2007 governorship election reportedly won by the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) candidate, Mr. Martins Agbaso, was cancelled by INEC on account of alleged irregularities, but the House of Assembly election held simultaneously was upheld.

A fresh one conducted on April 28 of the same year later produced Ohakim of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) as the governor of the state.

Giving a ruling in a motion filed by INEC and Ohakim seeking the dismissal of Agbaso's appeal case, the appellate court disagreed with INEC and the governor that the action of the APGA candidate constituted abuse of court process having challenged the result of the re-run election up to the Appeal Court on account of his loss at the second poll.

The court held that the two elections were different from one another and held on different days, adding that aggrieved participants have rights in law to ventilate their anger in court by seeking redress on any issue in dispute.

Justice Bada held that the dispute on the first election was whether INEC was right in cancelling it even when the results had been collated, maintaining that Agbaso as a participant and as an aggrieved person reserves the right to challenge the legality of the election cancellation. While challenging the legality of the poll cancellation, the APGA candidate attached the INEC result sheet, which indicated that he had won in 24 local governments before the INEC axe fell on the election".

Kalu also joined issues with Atiku on his claims that he (kalu) is undergoing trial and therefore sees Atiku as not qualified to comment on the issue. Saying that: "Atiku should be the last person to comment on such issues like trials. What about his Customs records? If standing trial is a disqualification, how come he still ran for political office in 2007?" That Atiku is talking about corruption, "but that he is a man who is being investigated by several foreign agencies for money laundering. Kalu asked about the Potomac house, the PTDF and so on? Kalu said that apart from Atiku working in Customs, he never did much to earn money. Let him tell us the source of his money. Let him even tell Nigerians the circumstances that led to his exit from the Customs."

Atiku replied by saying that he retired from the customs in 1989 after 20 years of meritorious service during which he won awards and commendations. That he went into business after his retirement. That his businesses are all legitimate and well known. Quoting Atiku's American lawyer, Edward Weidenfeld, the Media Office said "Atiku is free to travel to the United States or anywhere in the world. That there are no charges in the United States against him and members of his family. That Atiku is having a lunch meeting with Prince Charles in London tomorrow Wednesday Feb. 25, 2009. That this is not what wanted men would be doing." The Media Office also said that its message to the former Governor on the need for sobriety on the face of his lamentable and tragic circumstances had been grossly misunderstood. That "It is worrisome that a man on bail to attend to critical family health problems, will be jumping all over the place insulting all those he perceives as being threats to his presidential dreams".

The Media office also said that Atiku's property in the U.S is not up for sale.

This writer knew who kalu was, that he never took up any paid employment in his life other than his short stint in the House of Reps. At least we knew that Atiku worked in the customs and was corrupt and built his business empire with only "N30,000 loan" from the customs, but, kalu is yet to explain how he acquired all his wealth and businesses other than that Theo Orji, the incumbent Abia State governor laundered the sum of N5 billion of the people's money into Kalu's business and Kalu helped himself earlier with another N3.1 billion of Abia State's money. Who is the bigger criminal here? We will return to this topic later.

Kalu continued by saying: "Nigerian youths are jobless. The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) report is with the Senate. Atiku knows he impoverished this nation.

Atiku then said: Now that kalu has shown a willingness to talk about some of the things that happened behind the scene in 2003, it will help this country's history to know what he and those around him, including "Mother Excellency" did to appease the powers that be for a second term ticket in 2003.

This writer is wondering if kalu did wrought miracle in Abia State when he was a governor. Is there any functional government industry or corporation in the state since kalu took over the reins of government in the state? Isn't it a fact that all the industries kalu inherited have all packed up?

What Kalu said here is a clear case of "a kettle calling a pot black". Kalu is the one that made many Abia State youths jobless and he impoverished the state; go to the state and you will weep your eyes out. What's the hell is he talking about?

Kalu prayed Atiku to ask Nigerians for forgiveness, affirming that his new romance with his former boss and tormentor is only a furtherance of his cycle of inconsistencies and self-serving politics.

Kalu should also first of all pray to God for forgiveness, then, he should ask Abians for forgiveness for the havoc he, his family, stooge and cohorts have and are still wrecking in that state, and then afterwards, Kalu should ask all Nigerians for their forgiveness for being a public nuisance and a first class liar and deceiver.

ThisDay Newspapers of Tuesday, February 24, 2009 also wrote about the war of woods between the two men.

Kalu said "When former President Olusegun Obasanjo made life difficult for Atiku, some of us stood by the oppressed. Senator Bola Tinubu and I backed him. Atiku's house in Aso Villa was like a graveyard. He was begging me to visit him. I challenged Obasanjo in House Seven Aso Villa telling him that even as a sitting president, he was corrupt and not marketable.

"Obasanjo threatened to walk me out. I wrote to the media that the president was corrupt. You can imagine the shock when Atiku went back to his tormentor. He also promised Tinubu the AC vice presidential ticket, but reneged on that" Kalu added.

In reaction to these immediate points above, Atiku's camp wrote the following:

1 There was never a time that Atiku ever begged Kalu to visit.

2 Again, we restate that it was not Kalu that raised the matter of Obasanjo's electability in 2003. It was the then Governor James Ibori of Delta State.

3 Given the political arrangement in the country between north and south, Atiku could not have promised the vice presidency to anyone from the southwest.

Now Kalu's mother is trying to placate the minds of the duo that is after each other lately, so that each can declare a truce. The Sun Newspapers of Thursday, February 26, 2009 with the caption "Stop the kid fight, Kalu's mum tells son, Atiku" wrote that Chief Eunice Uzor Kalu, mother of Orji Uzor Kalu has urged her son and Atiku Abubakar to sheathe the sword and end the war of words, which they recently engaged in. Stressing that the duo's "kid-fight on the pages of Nigerian newspapers is not only regrettable but condemnable."

Below is the full text of the statement:

"My attention had been drawn to the continued kid fight between my son, Orji Uzor Kalu and Atiku Abubakar, his age-long friend. I have studied the issues surrounding their recent media brouhaha and it has become clear that the two, Atiku Abubakar and Orji Uzor Kalu, are yet to outgrow some childlike attitudes.

She said further that the reconciliation between the duo of Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar is a matter of political choice and therefore should not warrant the recent kid fight between two good friends, Orji Uzor Kalu and Atiku Abubakar. That Atiku Abubakar and Orji Uzor Kalu had been good friends for decades before they both joined politics, and therefore should not continue the fight on the pages of newspapers. That several years ago when politics was not yet in their hearts, as a customs officer, Atiku Abubakar loved Orji Uzor Kalu who was then a businessman and they both worked together harmoniously.

That Politics should not tear apart these two friends who she claims, have seen grow from literally nothing into world class leaders. That they should therefore be very good examples to those whom they lead, because so many people are learning from their actions and inactions."

Mama Kalu should know that her son took after her in character because my people say that "anything born of snake must be long, (odighi ihe agwo muru n´ahaghi idi ogologo)". The traits Kalu is exhibiting, he must have inherited from the mother as we were told that she was a street fighter and lifer before she "became" who she is today. She should have known that "a fruit does not fall far off from its tree." Mama Kalu is right to reiterate that Kalu and Atiku are still adult delinquents. Mama Kalu should tell us what business her son was doing that made his path and that of Atiku to cross before they joined politics. Maybe, kalu was dealing on contraband goods while Atiku facilitated the smuggling of those goods into the country. We need to know what that transpired here. Mama Kalu got it wrong by seeing his son and Atiku as world class leaders. They are not, unless she meant that the duo is world class leaders in stealing, lying, deceiving etc, then I can agree with her on that. Mama Kalu should have known that Orji Uzoh Kalu or Atiku will never be role models or as examples to any right thinking Nigerian, unless the person wants to do apprenticeship on how to steal, deceive, lie under the duo. Tufiakwa (God forbid).

The Tribune Newspapers in its editorial of Thursday, February 26, 2009 titled "POLITICIANS AND CHAMELIONS" summed it up by writing:

"Former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu, is spitting fire these days. Chief Kalu is either hurling fiery attacks on the former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, or blaming other political players, and never himself for the pathetic state of the country's economy.

CHIEF Kalu in a recent media report said the former vice-president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, was a chameleon. He said the former vice-president's constant change of political colours was the major reason he chose not to follow him to the Action Congress.

BUT as far as we know, Alhaji Abubakar may not be the only politician with mutable characteristics. Indeed, the entire Nigerian political clan has a character that is as steady as the electricity supplied by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

ONE notable feature of the typical Nigerian politician is their instant physical transformation. Before many of them come into government, the bones in their bodies were begging to be concealed by a bit of flesh but by the time they leave, they would have become a jolly of mass of flesh. Many of them would have become puffed up like turkeys, barely able to speak up in defence of the electorate.

IT will be wrong to single one person out of the lot like Chief Kalu had done. The entire political clan to which Kalu belongs is worse than a chameleon. Chameleons do not prey on people, but Nigerian politicians do".

Kalu accused Atiku of money laundering, but, before a day passed by; all the major newspapers in the country wrote that Kalu diverted N5bn Abia funds. The Vanguard Newspapers of Wednesday, February 25, 2009 with the caption "How ex-Gov Kalu diverted N5bn Abia funds-EFCC" wrote that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) gave details, before a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, of how the immediate past governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, diverted the state fund totalling N5 billion, in 36 instalments into the account of Slok Nigeria Limited during his tenure.

Slok is owned by Kalu and his family. That Kalu, Governor of Abia State between 1999 and 2007, was said to be in the habit of stealing the state fund each time the monthly allocation of the state government was released by the Federal Government. He handed over powers to Chief Theodore Orji who was his Chief of Staff, and the EFCC also fingered Orji as the principal facilitator of the looting of Abia State treasury by his predecessor, Orji Kalu.

During the trial, kalu claimed that in the charge, EFCC mentioned the names of people who allegedly took public fund and diverted same to the account of Slok and that his name was not mentioned at anytime. That he was different from Slok, even though he admitted that the company is owned by his family. He said he gave a directive that his name should be delisted from the Board of Directors of the company as soon as he took his oath of office in 1999. Kalu added that assuming monies were being transferred into the account of Slok; he said he had no such knowledge let alone authorizing it.

The Paper wrote that the EFCC said Kalu was economical with the truth. That according to Jacobs, the EFCC counsel, Kalu could not deny knowledge of the money transfer into Slok account when he was the one dispensing it. That Kalu's name was on the Board of Directors of Slok till 2004 and could not say he was not part of the management of the company. In the EFCC's words: "He (kalu) can't say that there was insufficient evidence to establish the charge made against him. In the proof of evidence before this court, the accused has a pattern of laundering public fund. What he did at the time he was in government was that immediately the monthly allocations for state government came, the Chief of Staff (Theodore Orji) would give directive to the Director of Finance to raise cheque in the name of the State House cashier, Mr. M A Udoh for whatever amount of money they intended to launder for the then governor (Orji Kalu).The cheque raised is taken to the bank where it is converted to cash. After this, they will now lodge the cash into the account of a private company which deals in the sale of Okrika owned by Ude who is a co-accused person in this matter, who in turn raised a draft payable into the account of Slok Nigeria Limited at the Apapa branch of Inland Bank in Lagos. They transferred different sums of monies totalling N5billion into Slok's account 36 times".

The EFCC also told us that the fresh application by Kalu to quash the charge against him was the third since his trial began before the court. That the first two were withdrawn at advanced stages of their hearing and were struck out. In essence, the court has not decided any of the applications on merit. It would be recalled that EFCC had arraigned Kalu alongside two others before the Abuja Federal high court over money laundering involving about N3.2 billion. He had pleaded not guilty to the charge. But that as full blown trial was about commencing in the case, the trial high court judge, Justice Binta Murtala Nyarko was transferred from Abuja to Lagos.

That another judge who was recently redeployed to Abuja division of the court, Justice Adamu Bello, took over the case file but ordered a de novo trial in the matter. That apart from preliminary applications involving bail and release of travel documents, no worthwhile progress has been made in the case.

Kalu and his friends have compromised the judiciary on many occasions. With Michael Aondakaa as AGF, these are the kind of stories we will always hear. That was why the gubernatorial appeal court for Abia State upheld the "election" of Kalu's stooge Theo Orji, which is not how it was supposed to be, taking into consideration the avalanche of evidence that would have informed the judges to rule otherwise. Kalu has made the judiciary to be transferring the judges handling the cases against him from time to time in order to frustrate the prosecution of those cases on one hand and to delay the judgment in another so that at a point , every body will forget about the cases and nothing will be heard about them again.

In the same preliminary objection against his trial, Kalu through his counsel said that the charge against him was illegal having been done in breach of an order of Umuahia High Court that no court action should be instituted against him on the issue, claimed that the charge was brought in bad faith by EFCC and should be dismissed for lacking in merit.

Kalu, through his lawyer, submitted that the Federal High Court in Abuja lacks jurisdiction to entertain the suit because the alleged fund belongs to the state and any dispute arising from it could only be looked into by Abia courts. The counsel argued that the state House of Assembly, the only body that has power to investigate the state finances, had at no time indicted the former governor while he was also not accused of any wrongdoing in the financial regulations of the state.

Besides, the counsel said the Money Laundering Act 2004 under which the former governor was charged to court had been repealed by Money Laundering Act 2007 and as such was a non existing law. He, therefore, asked the court to nullify the charge and strike out the trial of his client.

Opposing the application however, EFCC asked the judge to turn down the request on the ground that there was no abuse of judicial process as both the Umuahia High Court and Federal High Court have concurrent jurisdiction while their orders could not stop each other from functioning. The commission admitted that the Money Laundering Act 2004 had been repealed by the 2007 Act but insisted that the offence committed while the 2004 Act was in place could be tried under the repealed Act. He described Kalu's motion as frivolous, baseless and lacking merit and urged the court to hold that the former governor has a criminal case to answer.

The writer would want Kalu to know that we are aware that the judiciary and legislative arms of government in Abia State was and are still not independent during his tenure and now that T.A.Orji is the governor. Kalu tied the judiciary and the State House of Assembly to his apron, thereby getting them compromised.

Nwasoria wrote: For Orji Uzor Kalu and his lawyers it is simple: if the facts are not on your side, argue the law, no matter how untenable the argument. Here they are relying on groundless technicalities to rescue their client, relying on an untenable decision by a kangaroo court in Umuahia. One does not need to be a legal scholar to conclude that the decision rendered by that judge in Umuahia was a left handed gift that bears no legal merit. Instead of relying on this left handed gift, how about arguing that their client, a Governor, entrusted with the treasures and monies of the people of Abia state did not transfer such state resources to prop up his personal business. Do these people have any shame? 36 times, this guy is accused of having appropriated state resources for his personal well-being and while this was on-going, the infrastructure and every aspect of Abia economic and social structure were falling off the cliff.

What manner of people are these? No shame, no remorse. Instead, it is the usual ill-mannered bravado and public masturbation and neon-light noise making that pollutes the public space, which trails the tracks of this lot whenever they are out and about. Ndi-Abia, are we tired of these character types, yet? Even if the jaundiced Nigerian judiciary arm fails to grab these types, you'd think they will hide and wear bags over their you-know what faces before they venture out in public, if they had any shame, off course.

As our elders say, lacking shame is truly a disease.

Nwasoria

Goke wrote: Just so we know the character of who is accusing who of being a chameleon. The news coming out in the papers this morning mentioned how Kalu diverted N5b of Abia State to his company Slok. While it is true that this is an ongoing case and may never amount to much given the trend in Nigeria today, it is common knowledge that the man "did a lot" for Slok at the expense of Abia State. This is pertinent to this discussion as I notice he accused Atiku of corruption (not that I doubt that for a second!!). Unfortunately, Kalu is going around still talking like a hero that he should never have been able to arrogate to himself had well meaning Nigerians allowed EFCC to do its job without majoring on Obasanjo's prejudice and preference in the use of the commission. Methinks we were indeed very shallow and myopic to have figured that it was better to throw away the baby with the bath water.

Abia people how long will you continue to watch this guy, Orji Uzoh Kalu, parading himself around as a political leader of reckon, before you call him to account for his misdeeds? I wonder!!

May God help Nigeria.

'Goke

Abuja, Nigeria

Dare wrote: ...day by day...enemies of the people shall continue to wash their dirty underwears in a market place and expose their heinous crimes against defenceless Nigerians.

Dare...London.

Let's look at one of his patterns:

In 2006 the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) named Orji Uzor Kalu, in money laundering scandal involving the sum of N3.2 billion. Nuhu Ribadu while testifying before the senate that year, said that Abia State was number one in established cases of stealing, money laundering and diversion of funds adding that the then Governor used his mother, wife and brother to divert N35 billion to build his business empire including Slok Airlines, Slok pharmaceuticals and a Newspaper house. This is a state that has no good roads but mountains of refuse with nobody caring to clear them. Kalu tampered with the local governments fund and in some cases gave some local governments only thirty-three percent of their due shares while keeping the rest for self. That compromised many of the LGAs responsibilities.

In April 2008, the EFCC slammed another 112-count charges against kalu after discovering that he (Kalu) embezzled more money than anybody originally realised of.

The Punch Newspapers of May 1, 2008 with the caption "Kalu transferred N887m to Slok's account in one day - EFCC" wrote:

"The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Wednesday (April 30, 2008) filed a fresh 112-count charge against a former governor of Abia State, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu.

In the charge sheet, the EFCC said Kalu transferred N887m to the account of Slok Nigeria Limited on August 2, 2005.

Charged with the former governor were his mother, Eunice, a Permanent Secretary in Abia State, Mr. Udeh James, and one Mr. Emeka Abone, who are said to be at large.

Slok, which the former governor is believed to have a major stake in, was also charged.

Only Kalu and Udeh were in the dock. Both pleaded not guilty to the charges and were admitted to bail by Justice Adamu Bello.

In count one, Kalu was charged with transferring N75m into Slok's account while in count two, he was accused of retaining N31m in the firm's account.

Count three said he transferred N30m to Slok.

Count four read that the former governor procured Slok to illegally retain N50m belonging to the state while another N100m was retained illegally.

On June 7, 2005, he allegedly transferred N4.8m to Slok; on March 6, 2005, N4.5m; and N30m on April 7, 2005.

Several other millions of naira were allegedly transferred by him from the Abia State's coffer to Slok's accounts in various banks in 2005.

The court adjourned the case till May 22, 2008 for Kalu to argue his application for permission to travel abroad".

Now, kalu is being accused of laundering N 5 billion into his company with the help of his stooge, the incumbent governor of Abia State.

These are the kind of stuffs through which fraudulent business empires are built upon. I cannot understand how a person can be so greedy as not to know when to stop stealing from the people. It beats all imaginations that Kalu stole all that money plus about N200 million he was forcing out from the state's local governments every month and still has the audacity to claim fake righteousness or piety. Not only that he stole the state's money, Kalu is also going about lying with his basket mouth.

Let's look at his other pattern:

As Kalu was hauled to the court in 2007 to face criminal charges against him, he was made to deposit his international passport with the court, provide N100m bond deposit in a bank and two sureties in like sum. Then at a time, he was desperate to run away from Nigeria because he then miscalculated that the incoming president will pursue corrupt politicians with the same vigour as that of his predecessor, so for him, he must leave the country than going to jail. He started his well known antics. Why Kalu is still in Nigeria today is because he had seen that the present administration has watered down the war against corruption and YarÁdua and Aondakaa are compromised duo that has no "liver" to tame the dragon called corruption in Nigeria, because, they too are not clean also.

In 2007, Kalu forged a letter claiming that his wife was slated for brain surgery.

The Punch (August 08, 2007) had this caption "Kalu seeks permission to travel out for wife's brain surgery". The story by Punch had it that Orji Kalu sought the permission of a Federal High Court in Abuja to travel to the United States saying that he needed to be in the US to give consent to a brain surgery on his wife, Iheoma. In all these, he was only trying to influence the court to direct the EFCC to release his international passport claiming that the surgery was then slated for August 8, 2007. One of the papers Kalu presented to the court through his lawyers then was a copy of a letter purportedly written to him by one of his acquaintances that his wife was supposed to undergo the surgery.

Sooner than later, the lie and forgery busted: The Punch (August 14, 2007) in the caption "Kalu's wife not our patient now - US hospital" wrote that the management of Brigham and Women's Hospital in the United States, has distanced itself from a letter requesting the presence of former Abia State Governor, Chief Orji Kalu, for surgery on his wife, saying that Ifeoma was not on its register either as an out or in-patient. The hospital said it has no record of the purported letter Kalu presented to the Abuja Court.

Having tried that trick about his wife's illness and failed, Kalu decided to concoct another lie to get his travelling document in order to leave the country before he rots in jail by claiming to be having asthma and sleeping disorder. He is a guy that has unimaginable criminal tendencies. Kalu wanted to travel abroad to treat his "asthma." It was then said that Kalu's request to travel abroad was to delay his trial. The Guardian Newspapers of April 24, 2008 with the caption "EFCC, Kalu disagree on medical trip abroad" carried the story.

Nigerian politicians standing trial always use sickness as a ploy to get out of the country and then delay their appointment with justice in the process. But when they were governors, none of them built a specialist hospital in his state that can take care of those ailments they are claiming to be suffering from. None of them upgraded, renovated or equipped the existing hospitals in his state to the standard obtainable abroad where they all are running to. The leaders of those countries that built the state-of-the-art hospitals where our leaders are running to, to be treated, abroad are also human beings, but, used the people's resources to do the job for the people, while their Nigerian counterparts running to their hospitals, embezzled the people's resources they should have used to put things in order at home.

The Guardian newspapers of Feb. 25, 2009 wrote that the trial of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, over alleged criminal corrupt enrichment was adjourned till March 10, 2009 following the inability of the Federal High Court, Lagos, to sit. Consequently, Fayose's application for a leave of court to travel abroad to treat a kidney-related ailment could not be heard. This is the same Fayose that is claiming to be the new Ekiti State's god father with larger-than-life status; he who the traditional rulers in the Ekiti State are now worshipping.

The court has so many times accused Kalu of deliberately trying all his "tricks" to delay his trial, Kalu claiming that his wife was sick and later that he had asthma might be some of the tricks (lies) the court was talking about. Now that Kalu has decided to stay in Nigeria because the EFCC has been turned into a toothless bulldog, he still has the penchant to find ways to delay his trial, but, one day he will not have that luxury and leisure again as "a Daniel will come to judgment soon".

Continued on Part 3

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