Lanre Adewole, Abuja - 02.08.2007

On hand to receive him were two of his sureties, former Minister of State (Foreign Affairs), Chief Dubem Onyia, and Senator Uche Chukwumerije, as well as his political associates, relatives and scores of supporters.

Security was very tight around the prison, with armed policemen and prison officials thoroughly scrutinising the few visitors that were allowed entry, while a majority of those who came for the accused were kept outside.

Journalists were the worst hit, as they were not only barred from entering, but were molested by both the security agents and supporters of the former governor, who accused the reporters of being biased in their reporting of Kalu’s trial.

Kalu is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged laundering of about N3.1 billion, belonging to Abia State when he was the governor.

He was remanded in prison custody by Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako, who later granted him a conditional bail last Friday.

Concerted efforts by his associates to meet the bail conditions finally yielded fruit, when the release warrant was signed by the trial judge yesterday afternoon.

Immediately the warrant was signed, his associates including traditional rulers who had been keeping vigil at the court, left for the prison in a long convoy of vehicles, and minutes after the convoy berthed at the prison, Kalu was on his way out of his abode since the last two weeks, after release formalities were concluded by the officials of the Nigeria Prisons Service.

The carnival that started from the prison ended as the train entered Abuja, with the whereabouts of Kalu becoming controversial.

Journalists who had been directed by Kalu’s associates to the Transcorp Hilton Hotel for a media briefing waited endless for hours, without sighting him.

Even one of his lawyers, Mr. Mike Ozekhome, who was also waiting at the hotel, had to ask the newsmen about the whereabouts of his client, with some people suggesting that he might have directed his convoy to the Abia State Government lodge, though nobody could confirm this, including some of the traditional rulers that stood as sureties for him.

As at press time, nobody outside his close aides could confirm his whereabouts.

Justice Binta Murtala-Nyako had granted him bail in the sum of N100 million and two sureties in the like sum.

Apart from the two sureties, Kalu was also asked to produce two traditional rulers.

Since last Monday, two traditional rulers had been seen among those seeking his release, and when they were sighted again yesterday morning in court, they were still donning the same attire they wore on Monday and Tuesday.

They refused to reveal their identities when journalists tried to talk to them on their mission.

Justice Murtala-Nyako equally ordered that the sureties must have evidence of their Tax Payment Certificate from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) for three consecutive years, which must have been paid as it fell due.

Besides, the former governor is to depose to a sworn affidavit stating the number of countries which citizenship he obtained and to deposit all passports connected with those countries with the court, as well as depositing his three recent passport photographs with the court.

Aside from these conditions, Kalu was directed to be reporting to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on weekly basis and he is not to travel out of the FHC jurisdiction without the permission of the court.

In her ruling, the judge noted that, “though the offence of corruption is a serious one especially now that the country is fighting corruption, I have read section 14 (1) of the Money Laundering Act as well as the submissions of counsel to both parties including the provisions of the constitution, in respect of bail and I came to the conclusion that bail be granted to the accused person”.

The Nigerian Tribune also gathered that both former governors Joshua Dariye of Plateau State and Saminu Turaki of Jigawa State, who are also remanded in the prison custody, may be out before the end of this week.

Both are also being prosecuted by the EFCC for their alleged looting of their states’ treasuries while in office.

A very competent source within the prison revealed that they had moved very close to the fulfilment of their bail conditions as at yesterday.

Dariye is believed to have got stringent bail conditions from Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court, while Justice Nyako is believed to have given Saminu conditions that might not be easily met.

However, it was gathered that former governor of Taraba, Reverend Jolly Nyame, may have lost all hope of early release from prison custody, despite having been granted bail by an Abuja High Court trying him for allegedly stealing about N1.6 billion belonging to the state, while in office.

Since he was alleged to have confessed to the alleged crime, activities geared toward perfecting his bail conditions are said to have been at the lowest ebb with his political associates said to be entertaining fear that associating with a man that had confessed to looting the state treasury could spell doom for their future ambitions, and tarnish their names.

The trial of the former governor will commence after the courts return from their annual vacation that starts on 6th August, 2007.