👤 By Abdul Tukur DENISAURUS News

Orji Uzor Kalu, the representative for Abia North, will be allowed to keep his seat in the upper chamber, despite his recent 12 year-sentence for corruption.

The former Governor of Abia, who became a chief whip under the All Progressives Congress, will also continue to receive a salary from prison.

According to  the spokesperson of the 9th Senate, Senator Godiya Akwashiki the Senator Kalu, who was convicted and sentenced over a 7.2 billion fraud at the Federal High Court in Lagos, will be allowed to appeal the ruling and his seat will not be declared vacant.

“The Senate has no reason to declare his seat vacant. This is not the first time that such a thing would happen,” Senator Akwashiki said.

He explained  that “there is no provision in the constitution that says the seat of any senator facing prosecution or convicted at a lower court should be declared vacant. “He still has the opportunity to appeal the case.”