- Safiu Kehinde
Abia state lawmaker, Sen. Orji Kalu, has debunked claims of siphoning the state’s fund during his time as governor to purchase his multimillion-dollar mansion in Potoma, Maryland, USA.
Kalu had over the weekend come under the spotlight after taking a US-based Nigerian media personality, Chinedu Anichi, on a property tour around the mansion.
According to report, Anichi had in the video of the tour disclosed that the lawmaker also owns houses in Texas, North Carolina, and the United Kingdom.
This had stirred reactions from Nigerians who accused Kalu of embezzlement while recalling his corruption scandal.
Reacting to the allegation in a video shared on Facebook on Wednesday, the lawmaker explained that he brought the house in question before he became a governor.
He was disclosed that the house was purchased with the proceeds he got from the sales of his old house.
“I own a house in Boston Massachusetts. I sold it and I put the money together to buy where I live now in Washington DC.
“It is the same house Obasanjo was hailing when I was governor in 2003 and the US authority also came and look at it when Bush was President. So, Chinedu Anichi was right. I sold my house 19/21 facing this street.
“Though Chinedu Anichi didn’t ask me when the house was brought. But he just reported. What he reported was correct.
“I brought it before I became governor because it was proceeded of the house in Mattapan Boston that I used in buying the house. And it was properly declared in my asset declaration.
“Houses are in my name and I never brought it to hide from anybody that I own a house. I brought it in 2003.
“I just wanted this to be clear in the public record.
“People who will jump up tomorrow to say anything are not welcomed to this matter because 19/21 facing this street in Mattapan in Massachusetts was my house. I sold it and brought this place and still have some change.” Orji Kalu said.