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Jailed Nigerian lawmaker will continue to receive his salary and other allowances while in prison

In reality, there is a vast difference between a poor prisoner and a wealthy prisoner especially if the latter is a powerful politician.

Jailed Nigerian lawmaker will continue to receive his salary and other allowances while in prison

Nigeria’s former Governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor Kalu who was sentenced to a 12-year jail term on Thursday, December 5 after being found guilty of N7.16bn fraud will not forfeit his salary and allowances from the senate where he was a Chief Whip before his incarceration.

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According to the Senate, although the legislator is now a prisoner and will not be performing his duties as a lawmaker, his salary, allowance and other benefits will continue to hit his account.

“Of course, they will pay him. Because he is a sitting senator just like I said…if you file for an appeal, you are still serving and so they will pay you.

“All his entitlements will be paid. There is no cause for alarm. In fact, even if the Court of Appeal says they have upheld the judgement of the lower court, he still has the right to go to Supreme Court. So, once the Supreme Court says, yes, the judgement is okay, then that’s the final,” Senate’s spokesperson, Godiya Akwashiki told Premium Times.

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“He is still a senator. This is the first court. The matter is going to Supreme Court so, he still has the opportunity to appeal up to the Supreme Court level,” Akwashiki explained.

Well, that’s the unacceptable and annoying difference between a poor taxpayer and a wealthy politician. If it was the poor taxpayer who was jailed for stealing a bunch of plantains, he or she must rot in prison but because Orji Uzor is a rich politician, the taxpayer must continue to pay him while he is in prison doing nothing.

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