Despite being accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of laundering N7.1 billion from the government’s treasury, a former governor of Abia State, Orji Uzor-Kalu has said he spent his money while serving the state.

The former governor and lawmaker said that contrary to the claims and allegations that he siphoned funds from the state’s coffers alongside his finance director at the time, he never benefited financially from Abia State.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today, the lawmaker said as the Senator representing Abia North Senatorial District, he is currently spending his personal funds.

According to Uzor-Kalu, he lost money and his businesses to the Nigerian government following his prosecution by the anti-graft agency.

His words, “I spent my own money being a governor like I am spending my own money as a Senator. I used to finance the state, that is the truth. I never benefited anything from being a governor rather I lost a lot of money. The Federal Government took a lot of my businesses, so for me, politics has been more dangerous to me.”

Uzor-Kalu, who served two tenures as the governor of Abia State also opened up about the role he played in funding some of the activities of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with his personal fund.

The former governor, however, stated that he does not regret spending his money on politics or the benefit of the people and members of his constituents.