SNOW TV NEWS DESK
Former Abia State Governor and senator Orji Uzor Kalu has revealed that he was once involved in the arms trade, disclosing that he sold weapons to individuals and countries willing and able to pay for them.
Kalu made the revelation during an interview on Arise News, where he spoke about his past business activities, dealings across Africa, and relationships with prominent African leaders.
When asked directly whether he had been an arms dealer, the senator gave a straightforward response, admitting that he was involved in the business.
He explained that his decision to leave the trade came after his parents intervened and persuaded him to walk away from it.
According to him, their appeal eventually convinced him to stop selling weapons.
Kalu, however, offered a striking account of his mindset during his time in the business, saying his primary motivation was making money rather than concerning himself with how buyers intended to use the weapons.
“I was selling guns to make money. Whether they blow [up] people was not my business,” he said.
The interviewer also asked whether he supplied weapons to the African National Congress (ANC) during its struggle against apartheid in South Africa. Kalu dismissed the suggestion that the organization was a specific customer, maintaining that he sold to anyone interested in purchasing arms.
He further indicated that his business extended beyond Nigeria, with buyers from different countries able to access his services as long as they had the financial means.
Asked whether former Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was among those he supplied, Kalu did not confirm a specific transaction. Instead, he reiterated that his business was open to anyone who could afford to buy weapons at the time.
He also described Gaddafi as “a good man” and offered his condolences over the former Libyan leader’s death.
The conversation later turned to the origins of the weapons and the identities of his suppliers. However, Kalu declined to provide those details, describing his sources as private business matters.
His revelation has drawn attention because of the serious nature of the arms trade and the questions it raises about the people and organizations that may have benefited from his former business activities.
While Kalu says he eventually abandoned the trade at his parents’ request, his comments have opened up a wider conversation about his past commercial dealings and the international networks involved in the weapons business.
The interview did not provide further details about the period during which he operated as an arms dealer, the scale of the business, or the specific individuals and countries involved.
“Sir Bartholomew White Ebe is a Lagos-based media personality, Music Artist, Producer, and a Relationship Coach and independent journalist. With over seven years of experience tracking political developments and cultural shifts in Nigeria, he specializes in local current affairs, grassroots politics, and community-driven reporting across Lagos State. As the founder and chief editor of Snow Multimedia Connect {SNOW TV}, he leads the editorial team to deliver verified, high-impact stories to digital audiences.”
Email: snowmediaconnect@gmail.com
