Orji Uzo Kalu is back in Abuja

ORJI UZOR KALU BACK IN ABUJA

He was convicted in Lagos. He was ordinarily meant to serve his 12-year sentence in Lagos, either at the Kirikiri Maximum Custodial Center or the Ikoyi Medium Correctional Center, where he has been since his conviction.

But Orji Uzor Kalu, a serving Senator, shall be serving his sentence at the Abuja Medium Custodial Center. The official reason for this prison transfer is because Kalu is standing trial in another case in Abuja. But beside this justification, Kalu would like to stay in Abuja so he would be closer to Abuja political power base. He remains a Senator and would like to participate as often as possible in senatorial proceedings. All it takes for him to attend senate proceedings is a production warrant signed by the Clerk of the Senate and served on the Officer in Charge of the prison facility.

Even though two other former Governors are currently serving their prison terms in Kuje, keeping a man like Kalu in prison is quite a task for the prison authorities. So, extensive arrangements was made to move Kalu from Lagos to Abuja in a private jet, and the Kuje prison was actively preparing to receive him.

Many Senators and top politicians were in Kuje on Sunday to visit with him. No doubt that his conviction has significantly dislodged him as a major political persona in Nigeria, but it is still too early to tell the extent.