Date Published: 09/12/11

Orji Kalu puts up his property for sale

Orji Kalu's 14900 River road mansion

Orji Kalu the former governor of Abia State, who is currently facing corruption charges for looting the government while in office, has put up his United States mansion up for sale, according to real estate records obtained by SaharaReporters.

The property, which is on five acres of land at 14900 River Road, Potomac, Maryland, has seven bedrooms and seven and a half bathrooms. It not clear why Kalu is selling the home but last year a 47-year old Nigerian woman, Chinwe Masi, mysteriously died on the property while Mr. Kalu was there.

Although the Maryland coroner office told SaharaReporters that Chinwe, who was purportedly Mr. Kalu's mistress, died of heart attack, family members and friends said they suspected foul play. They cited the rushed and secret burial which was done by a select group of family members. Associates of Mr. Kalu also told SaharaReporters that since leaving office in 2007, the former governor's financial fortunes have dipped.

Kalu's movie room

Businesses such as his Slok airline in Gambia have failed. Kalu’s mother, Eunice Uzor, also owns $1.3 million, six-bedroom waterfront property at 4922 Shapiro Court Missouri City, Texas 77459.

Mr. Kalu had originally listed the Potomac home, which was built in 1996, for $4.5 million, but after 139 days on the market without a buyer, he drastically reduced the price to $2.9 million.

Mr. Kalu bought the property in June 2003, a few months after he became a second term governor of Abia State, a state he recklessly looted in a series corruption schemes that led to his arrest and arraignment for money laundering in 2007 after he stepped down as governor.

Courtesy Sahara Reporters