Orji Kalu: Six Months in Prison Made Me Humble, I’m Grateful to Those Who Jailed Me

Former Abia State Governor and Senator representing Abia North, Orji Kalu, has described his six-month imprisonment as a life-changing experience, saying he remains grateful to those who sent him to jail.

Kalu said his time behind bars taught him valuable lessons, made him more humble and reshaped his understanding of life.

The senator disclosed this during an interview with Arise Television on Monday, explaining that he now views his incarceration as an experience comparable to attending school.

Reflecting on the impact of the experience, he said: “It made me more humble. It made me to realise that life is not the same thing I used to think about. So I’m very grateful to God I was there.”

He also praised those responsible for his imprisonment, saying the experience provided him with an opportunity to learn and grow.

“And I gave kudos to people that sent me there because it’s like going to school. And I graduated there, and I’m very happy I went there,” Kalu stated.

The senator was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment in December 2019 after a Federal High Court in Lagos convicted him on a 39-count charge.

His conviction was, however, overturned by the Supreme Court on May 8, 2020.

The apex court ruled that the trial judge, Mohammed Idris, lacked the jurisdiction to deliver the judgment because he had already been elevated to the Court of Appeal.

Following the ruling, the Supreme Court ordered a fresh trial, and Kalu was released from Kuje Correctional Centre after spending about six months in detention.

During the television interview, Kalu was also asked whether he believed the conviction was justified.

Disagreeing with the decision, he nevertheless declined to extensively discuss the circumstances of the case.

“No, it wasn’t the right thing to do. But I don’t like to discuss this because the judge had his reasons. When the judge did it, I praised him. I support all his decisions,” he responded.

While admitting that the judiciary had its shortcomings, Kalu said there were still judges who remained dedicated to delivering justice.

He urged Nigerians who disagree with judgments delivered by lower courts to pursue legal appeals rather than resort to public condemnation of judicial decisions.

According to the senator, approaching higher courts offers litigants another opportunity to secure justice, as more judges participate in reviewing the decisions.

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