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Tag: Kuku

  • Kuku, dons to speak at Africa awards

    Kuku, dons to speak at Africa awards

    Former  Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs and Chairman of Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Kingsley Kuku, is to deliver the keynote address at Triangle Media International Award.

    Others  include Prof. Ojo Ademola and Dr Nathaniel Oyinloye, who will speak  on “Addressing Economic Challenges in Nigeria; Strategies for Sustainable Growth and Development” and “The challenges of Insecurity in Nigeria”.

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    Publisher of Triangle Media, Femi Salako, said the award which holding in May in London, is aimed at celebrating individuals and corporate organisations from Nigeria and Africa who have excelled in public and private endeavours.

    “The Triangle Media International Award is not just a ceremony; it is a celebration of excellence and innovation. It is our chance to shine a spotlight on individuals and organisations whose hard work and dedication impacted lives through the continent’’

  • Amnesty: From Kuku to Ndiomu

    Amnesty: From Kuku to Ndiomu

    • By Ranami Olali

    By default or design, two great minds and passionate crusaders for the betterment of the lives of Niger Deltans met recently in Abuja.  Kingsley Kuku, a former boss at the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP) was guest of Major-General Barry Tariye Ndiomu (Rtd), the incumbent interim administrator of the programme.

    For Kuku who was special adviser to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua on the Niger Delta and chairman, Presidential Amnesty Implementation Committee, it was home-coming to the office that he presided over and used to calm the nerves of agitators in the oil-rich region. Yar’Adua had in 2009 created the Amnesty Programme through an implementation committee. Kuku was one of earliest Niger Deltans to rock the peace-building baby in its cradle. This makes him a midwife of the programme specifically designed to de-radicalize the restive youths in the Niger Delta, train them through various capacity-building initiatives and have them mainstreamed into the larger society.

    The obvious success of the programme in re-orientating the once restive youths and ensuring peace within the region made President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint Kuku as his Special Adviser on the Niger Delta and chairman, Niger Delta Presidential Amnesty Programme in January 2011. Jonathan later reappointed him into the same position in July 2011 after he was sworn in as duly elected president in the 2011 general elections. That marked a tipping point for the programme as Kuku and his team at PAP achieved the disarmament and demobilization of 30,000 ex-agitators. The instant and visible impact of the programme was noticed in the increase in crude oil production which translated to more revenue for the nation.

    It was, therefore, expected that President Muhammadu Buhari would retain the programme against spirited campaigns from some persons for its scrapping. Buhari did not only retain the programme, he stridently sought for a Niger Deltan of integrity to man the programme after series of corruption allegations that trailed the administration of the programme. He found one in Ndiomu.

    From inception, PAP has been administered by six chief executives.  Such high leadership turnover is symptomatic of a dysfunctional agency. The roll call: Lucky Ochuko Ararile, (a retired Air Vice Marshal); Timi Alaibe, (a former managing director of the NDDC) and Kingsley Kuku, (a former member of the Ondo State House of Assembly). They were Special Advisers to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinators of PAP, at various times. Then came Paul Boroh, (a retired Brigadier-General); Charles Quaker Dokubo, (a professor of International Affairs) and Milland Dikio, (a retired Colonel). Sadly, none of these men served out a full tenure of four years as recommended by law. In some cases, reports of abuse of office and unwholesome financial dealings which negated the founding objectives of PAP trailed the tenures of these CEOs precipitating in their resignations or outright dismissals. But Kuku was an exception among the past leaders as he was adjudged the best by stakeholders in the region.

    The appointment of Ndiomu by Buhari, in context, was hailed as a masterstroke. He was seen as the fit man for the job of interfacing and re-orientating the ex-agitators in the creeks. He was appointed on very strong recommendation. The then President Buhari had sought for a rounded Niger Delta person who commands respect in the area. The brief was straight forward; get someone the people of the region can easily relate with, trust and have confidence in, to guide them out of the paths of violence. A father figure who will ensure that what was meant for the people, especially the ex-agitators, gets to them.

    Those things earmarked for the people were clearly defined: capacity building through skills acquisition, monthly stipend and turning the ex-agitators into employable, skilled up personnel or making them entrepreneurs and creators of wealth and jobs.

    Ndiomu understands this brief and he has set out to actualize them. Little wonder visiting Kuku was full of laudation for Ndiomu for expanding the frontiers of the brief beyond training and upskilling of ex-agitators but also setting up a unique cooperative scheme solely for the empowerment of the participants.

    The cooperative scheme initiated by Ndiomu has enabled most of the youths to grow their businesses and become entrepreneurs. Though funding is still a challenge, but with the fiscal prudence exhibited by Ndiomu so far, it is expected that the Bola Ahmed Tinubu government will deploy more funds to the agency to enable it effectively achieve its mandate. More funds will translate to more empowerment and more people being captured into the Programme.

    Both Ndiomu and Kuku agreed that PAP has helped to reflate the national economy. They reason that full resuscitation of the vocational centres within the region coupled with other trainings and scholarships will not only migrate Niger Deltans from pain street to productive clusters, it will advance the Renewed Hope vision of President Tinubu by increasing the threshold of local content in aviation, oil and gas and other sectors where the ex-agitators are daily being trained.

    The overall goal of PAP is to achieve enduring peace in the region. Ndiomu’s innovative management style has helped the agency to achieve and sustain this through active communication engagements with the various communities of the Niger Delta by upgrading the strategic communications team.

    The ex-agitators want jobs after graduation. Ndiomu is doing just that. Between October 2022 and now, some skilled-up ex-agitators have been absorbed into some agencies. The NSCDC, NITDA, Office of the Head of Service, Nigerian Police Force (NPF), the Nigerian Navy, Ministry of Finance, among others have boosted hope for job placements for already trained ex-agitators. Thousands of such trained ex-agitators are projected to be employed in a new push by PAP to get them to participate in securing oil facilities and installations.

    The setting up of micro-business clusters and cooperatives, a brainchild of Ndiomu, to empower eligible delegates remains one of the most profound legacies of the programme. Over N1 billion has been earmarked to support delegates’ micro-business start-ups.

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    There is also the launch of the Formal Education Trust Fund (FETFund), an ambitious N1 billion initiative with funds to be sourced from IoCs (International oil Companies), state governments of the Niger Delta as well as international development partners. Management of the FETFund is by a board of trustees comprising eminent personalities of Niger Delta, ex-agitator leaders and technical experts. This kick-started the process for the strategic transition of the PAP into a more sustainable entity with a wider mandate targeted at the youth population of the Niger Delta region.

    Kuku spared no words to commend Ndiomu for continuing with projects he inherited rather than abandoning them. This also were the testimonies from relevant stakeholders in the region including the Ijaw National Congress, Ijaw Youth Congress, ex-agitators, traditional rulers among others. In Ndiomu, they see a man who is on top of his game. His exemplary success at PAP made President Buhari to assign an extra responsibility to him as the chairman of the Federal Government’s Special Investigative Panel on Crude Oil Theft/Losses.

    In barely one year, Ndiomu has raised the bar of efficiency at the programme, re-engineered a new order of probity and openness and widened the net of reintegration to include entrepreneurship. Kuku said he was “happy to stand by, stand with and move with Ndiomu” on account of his excellent performance on the job of making the Niger Delta and Niger Deltans feel a sense of belonging in the national matrix.

    • Olali, environmental activist, writes from Port Harcourt.
  • Alleged N6.2bn fraud: EFCC writes AGF, seeks Kuku’s extradition

    Alleged N6.2bn fraud: EFCC writes AGF, seeks Kuku’s extradition

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) wants  the former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs and the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Mr.Kingsley Kuku, extradited home.

    Kuku is wanted for questioning over alleged mismanagement of a N6.2billion contract during his tenure in charge of  the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

    He was recently sighted in the United States of America (USA).

    The EFCC  has now  requested the assistance of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Abubakar Malami(SAN), for  Kuku’s extradition.

    The agency accuses Kuku of  abuse of office, conspiracy, procurement fraud, misappropriation, stealing of public funds and money laundering.

    But it has difficulty in establishing  Kuku’s precise address  in the United States, following intelligence that he has gone underground.

    The  anti-graft agency said its investigation had shown  that about N2.5billion of the N6.2billion in question was paid to a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)-Foundation for Youth Development (FYD)- run  by a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Chibudom Nwuche.

    The NGO said yesterday that “the allegation is not true.”

    It said that on the contrary it gave a loan of N2.8billion to the amnesty programme “on the request of the former Special Adviser to the President to the Amnesty Programme.”

    A highly placed  source told The Nation that while the EFCC was able to confirm  Kuku’s entry into the USA, it cannot ,for now, say where he stays in that country.

    The source described  Kuku as vital to the ongoing probe of the alleged N6.2billion fraud,saying that the suspect awarded contracts running into billions of Naira even though his approval threshold  was only N100million.

    The source said such  action  was in violation of the Public Procurement Act (2007).

    “The EFCC has written to the AGF to assist it in invoking mutual legal assistance treaty between Nigeria and the United States to extradite Kuku,” the source said.

    “Efforts are being intensified to conclude investigation and determine the next line of action which may include prosecutorial action to serve as restitution to the aggrieved youths.

    “The commission has started the recovery of the money paid to Nwuche’s NGO as mobilization fee, while Kinsgley Kuku now taking refuge in the United States is being watch-listed as all efforts made to get him report to the commission have not yielded any positive result.”

    The investigation was triggered by a petition from some concerned youths in  the Niger Delta in 2015, alleging monumental fraud and stealing of stipends meant for ex-militants in the region who embraced  the  Presidential Amnesty Programme of the Federal Government introduced by  the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

    The programme continued during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan with  Kuku placed in its control.

    The concerned citizens alleged, amongst others, that the N65, 000 earmarked as monthly stipend for  each of  the ex-militants by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the Amnesty Office was diverted from their account to unknown accounts.

    The petitioners  also claimed that “various contracts were awarded for the provision of vocational training and skill acquisition running to billions of Naira to enable contractors train the ex-militants, but rather than provide the needed training, the contracts were  executed poorly, selectively or money outrightly stolen.”

    The source added:”The complainants made reference to a company controlled by Nwuche who runs a Non-Governmental Organization which was awarded a contract to conduct overseas training for youths of the Niger Delta at a sum of over N6.2billion by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, Hon. Kingsley Kuku.

    “They alleged that the said contract was not executed despite a huge sum of money already released. But Nwuche disputed the allegation when he interacted with our detectives.

    “Investigation revealed how a student hall was built at the alma mater of Kingsley Kuku, using the same money awarded to train the ex- agitators.”

    Another source said:”If all contracts awarded were religiously executed vis-a-vis the aspirations of the government, all the issues confronting the Niger Delta region would have been a thing of the past.

    “Two senior aides of the former Presidential Adviser Kingsley Kuku have already been charged to court after diligent investigation and the case is being tried in a law court.

    “Of the N6.2billion awarded to the said NGO under the said former lawmaker, N2.5billion was already released to the company as mobilization fees to execute the training of the Niger Delta youths.

    “But sadly the said contractor abdicated his responsibilities by claiming that the money was given to Kingsley Kuku as a loan to settle the stipends of the ex- Niger Delta agitators. “

    The NGO, responding to the allegations  against it, yesterday dismissed them as untrue.

    Its coordinator,  Kingdom Ajugo, said: “FYD gave the sum of N2.8billion as a loan to the Amnesty Programme on the request of the former Special Adviser to the President to the Amnesty Programme .

    “The loan was to stabilize the Niger Delta Region as, according to him, ex militants were threatening to disrupt oil production and the peace  in the Niger Delta  on account of non- payment of stipends. It was also to take care of some stakeholders and leaders.

    “The loan was given by way of cash payments to his SA and bank transfers to beneficiaries known to him in the open and several reminders for re-payment were sent and duly acknowledged.

    “These bank transfers and video evidence where the aide admitted receiving the funds and also identified other beneficiaries were given to the IPOs  who refused to follow up on these leads and instead were harassing FYD to refund the sum of N2.6billion paid as mobilization for the last set of contracts.

    “FYD is also owed N5.4billion for the provision of sea time training vessel by the Amnesty Office.

    “FYD has sued Kuku and the Amnesty Office for recovery and specific performance of the ongoing contracts.

    “The matter is currently sub judice and we are not interested in any media war as we are standing by the truth and  anybody with contrary facts should meet us in court.”

  • Attacks on oil pipelines: DSS probes ex-Amnesty Programme chief Kuku

    Attacks on oil pipelines: DSS probes ex-Amnesty Programme chief Kuku

    The Department of State Security Services (DSS) yesterday said it was probing a former Coordinator of Amnesty Programme for Niger Delta, Dr. Kingsley Kuku, over alleged link with attacks on oil pipelines.
    Quoting intelligence report, the service alleged that Kuku was one of the sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA),
    DSS made the clarifications in a confidential note by one of its top officials, which was made available to the media.
    It said: “It is rather disturbing that Kingsley Kuku, a fugitive, who is believed to be funding some illegal raids like the one carried out on the residence of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chibudom Nwuche, is planning to assume the behind-the-scene leadership of the unified South-South arms struggle to gain relevance in the present government, aimed at avoiding possible searchlight on the atrocities committed during his tenure as Special Adviser for the Amnesty Programme.
    “Kuku, who is currently on self-exile, is also one of the sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers and the large scale sabotage against the oil pipelines across the Niger Delta (2015 – 2017).”
    The top source added: “I’m certain this is an issue that will not be swept under the carpet.”
    Apart from the DSS, the former Special Adviser on Amnesty Programme is also being investigated over alleged mismanagement of N2,864,584,979 for the training of ex-militants.
    The other allegations against Kuku are as follows:
    • Inclusion of many undeserving people on the beneficiary list of Amnesty Programme;
    •Circumstances surrounding how 2000 Amnesty Programme beneficiaries became stranded abroad;
    • Over-bloated training contracts without adding value to the Amnesty Programme;
    •Huge bills on all-expense international and local trips in private jets; and
    • Operation of an expensive office in the United Kingdom
    A source in EFCC said: “Kuku is also aware that since 2013, a group, Niger Delta Awareness Coalition & Ex Militants Leaders Forum had joined issues with him on the management of the Amnesty Programme.
    “In one of the issues raised before ex-President Jonathan, the group alleged mismanagement of billions of Naira earmarked for the development of the Niger Delta.
    “They also alleged that Niger Delta youths were shipped away to unaccredited training and educational institutions across most of the Third World.
    “Our job as an anti-graft agency is to look into some of these allegations and find out the veracity or otherwise.
    “By inviting Kuku, it does not mean he is guilty of the allegations against him. If there is nothing against Kuku, he will be given a clean bill of health. If, otherwise, he will face trial.”

  • Eyes on Adenuga, Kuku, Otudeko for Ogbeni Oja stool

    The Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, must be in deep thought these days as he mulls over the illustrious son of Ijebuland to be conferred with the kingdom’s most coveted chieftaincy title for business-minded personalities, the Ogbeni Oja (leader of commerce) of Ijebuland. The monarch’s headache is compounded by the fact that the main gladiators are all formidable men who have proved resounding success in their respective fields.

    The holder of the title is seen as first among equals, representing the commercial interests of the entire Ijebu nation. Little wonder the position is hotly contested. Those who should know say the monarch’s searchlight is being beamed on such formidable businessmen Globacom supremo, Dr Mike Adenuga; Fototek boss, Chief Adegunwa; renowned industrialist, Oba Otudeko and accomplished medical practitioner Oloroogun Sonny Kuku.

    The days ahead promise to be interesting as indigenes of Ijebuland await the monarch’s proclamation.

  • Nwuche, Kuku trade words over N2.9b debt claim

    Nwuche, Kuku trade words over N2.9b debt claim

    Former Deputy Speaker Chibudom Nwuche and ex-presidential adviser on Niger Delta Kingsley Kuku are trading words over a contract awarded by the Presidential Amnesty Office.

    Nwuche had alleged, in a suit which he filed on September 27 before the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, that the Presidential Amnesty Office under Kuku was owing him N2, 864, 584, 979.00.

    But, Kuku, through his lawyer, Gerald E. Ezeuko (SAN), denied borrowing money either in person or through his office from Nwuche. He said rather, it was Nwuche, who is owing the Presidential Amnesty Office the N2, 864, 584, 979.00, which formed part payment for contracts awarded to his company – Foundation for Youth Development (FYD).

    Kuku, in a statement yesterday by Ezeuko, added that the Amnesty Office awarded contracts to Nwuche’s FYD between 2012 and 2013, to provide offshore training for Niger Delta youths in construction, Information Technology and welding in Vietnam, Malaysia and at the World Maritime University in Sweden, under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

    “Hon Kuku has informed me, and I believe him, that after being paid this huge sum of money to fund the contract, Hon. Chibudom Nwuche and his firm, Foundation for Youth Development, failed to execute this contract as stipulated in the letter of award.

    “I have been duly informed by my client, Hon. Kuku, that while he served as the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, concerted efforts were made to get Hon. Chibudom Nwuche to timeously execute this contract, but all to no avail.

    “Let me emphasis that as Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Hon. Kingsley Kuku did not, and could not have obtained a loan on behalf of the Federal Government of Nigeria from Hon. Chibudom Nwuche.

    “There are clearly laid down procedure or processes that departments and agencies of the Federal Government of Nigeria usually follow while seeking to obtain loan on behalf of the Federal Government from either institutions or individuals.”

    “We challenge Hon Chibudom Nwuche to produce any iota of proof to back his rather comical claim that he gave a loan to the Presidential Amnesty Office under Hon. Kingsley Kuku.

    “The fact that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is currently investigating Hon. Chibudom Nwuche over this matter is well known and has been widely reported in the Nigerian media,” Ezeuko said.

    The lawyer added that, although his client was yet to be served with processes relating to the suit filed by Nwuche, his statement was intended to set the records straight and protect his client’s name.

    A statement by the media adviser to FYD, Mr Ik Anyaduba, last night  faulted Kuku’s position.

    The statement said:   “We challenge him (Kuku) to come back to Nigeria to answer to the various cases of fraud and embezzlement hanging over his neck.

    “We will not have bothered to respond but for the need to put the records straight for the benefit of the public.

    “If he is indeed innocent, why not come to court to clear his name instead of rushing to the media as a cover for his atrocities? Did the media take him to court? Has FYD rushed to the media?

    “We believe in the rule of law and that is why we are in court and not in the media grandstanding hoping to cow victims into carrying his cross.”

  • Jonathan’s ex-aide Kuku loses bid to stop arrest

    Jonathan’s ex-aide Kuku loses bid to stop arrest

    The Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday dismissed an application by a Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku, to stop his arrest.

    Kuku asked the court to restrain anti-corruption agencies from arresting and prosecuting him over allegations of corruption.

    But, Justice Okon Abang held that the application lacked merit.  “This application lacks merit and is hereby dismissed. I so hold,” he said.

    Justice Abang refused Kuku’s prayer to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS) from arresting and probing him. He, however, said should Kuku be arrested, he should not be detained beyond 48 hours because that would contravene Section 35(4) (5) of the 1999 Constitution.

    He said EFCC has a statutory obligation to investigate Kuku over alleged financial impropriety and arrest him if he refuses to honour its invitation but disagreed with the submission that any move to invite Kuku was politically motivated.

    After assuming jurisdiction in the case, Justice Abang held: ”It is in my view that the invitation sent to the applicant is lawful and constitutional.

    “The court cannot stop a statutory institution from performing it constitutional duty.”

    The court, however, said his arrest must follow due process.

    Kuku sued the Attorney-General of the Federation, EFCC, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), the DSS and the Nigeria Immigration Service, alleging of “plots by the respondents to concoct, fabricate or falsify evidence in order to provide a basis for his arrest, detention, persecution and/or prosecution for political reasons”.

    According to him, it was “in furtherance of the unconscionable use of the otherwise laudable war against corruption to repress the political opposition constituted by the leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), including the applicant.”

    Kuku sought a declaration that any such invitation, arrest, harassment or prosecution on the basis of allegations of corruption in respect to his tenure as Chairman of the Amnesty Programme between 2011 and 2015 is a breach of his right to fair hearing and freedom of movement.

    Similarly, he sought an order prohibiting the respondents from arresting or prosecuting him on the basis of the allegations.

    The Auditor-General of the Federation had raised questions over alleged mismanagement of funds in reports of audit monitoring and evaluation of the amnesty programme.

    Kuku’s lawyer Mr. Ajibola Oluyede said the respondents were about to abuse the criminal process by seeking to arrest his client.

    “There is an illegal and unjustifiable instigation of the criminal process against the applicant in a manner that infringes upon his fundamental rights as enshrined in Chapter 4 of the 1999 Constitution,” he said.

    But the AGF’s and IGP’s counsel, Mr. Tijani Gazali, urged the court to dismiss Kuku’s application.

    He said Kuku was only invited to clear allegations of corruption against him, adding that there was no plot to violate his rights.

    “We only invited him to ensure his right to fair hearing. It was only an invitation. Instead, he has run to the court to be conferred with immunity so as not to be investigated. He was invited so as to tell his own side of the story,” Gazali said.

  • Kuku alleges plans to implicate him

    Kuku alleges plans to implicate him

    Former Presidential Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs and ex-Coordinator of the Amnesty Programme, Mr. Kingsley Kuku has said there are plans to implicate him in a financial deal he knows nothing about.

    He described as untrue and politically- motivated, reports that his account had been frozen.

    A newspaper reported that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had frozen an account belonging to Keketobou Foundation.

    According to Kuku, “the foundation has only N720,484 as balance and the proceeds from my book, “Remaking The Niger Delta: Challenges and Opportunities”, was donated to charity.

    “I distributed JAMB forms to applicants, gave financial and material support to the aged, widows and the physically, challenged and helped in the rehabilitation of walkways and drainages in my hometown, Arogbo, Ondo State. These gestures were borne out of my determined spirit to give back to my final place of return in life.”

    Kuku said the report was politically-motivated and intended to smear his reputation.

    “What on earth links my face to the alleged story about NIMASA? It is still all part of the anti-Jonathan onslaught. I am open to investigation as a public officer, but ongoing activities of the ‘goebellic’ distortion by the anti-graft agencies and some sections of media creates in the heart of it all, suspicion of witch-hunt and bad politics.

    “I hope no desperate elements would deposit illicit funds into the foundation’s account to implicate me because the full details of the account from opening to date are with us,” he warned.

     

     

  • Kuku to EFCC: I’m ready for probe

    Kuku to EFCC: I’m ready for probe

    Following his invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku, has assured he was ready to assist the commission in its bid to probe the accounts of the agency under his leadership.

    The former presidential aide was reacting to the EFCC’s invitation directing him to report to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja for questioning on July 28 over allegation of diversion of public funds.

    ýKuku, who is undergoing medical procedure in the United States, described the allegations levelled against him as unfounded.

    According to him: “The allegations of conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and diversion of public funds being made against me did not arise as the records of my administration were clear and available for scrutiny.”

    Kuku, who spoke on phone, said: “I am currently in the US for an urgent surgery on my knee at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Centre and I will certainly return to honour the EFCC invitation once I recuperate in September.

    “The record of my stewardship under the Presidential Amnesty Programme is an open document and it is available for scrutiny since I have nothing to hide about what we did.”

  • Kuku to EFCC: I’m ready for probe

    Kuku to EFCC: I’m ready for probe

    Following his invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the immediate past special adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr. Kingsley Kuku has assured that he was ready to assist the commission in its bid to probe the accounts of the agency under his leadership.
    The former presidential aide, was reacting to an invitation by the EFCC, directing him to report to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja for questioning on July 28, 2015, over allegation of diversion of public funds running into hundreds of millions of Naira.
    ‎Kuku, who is undergoing medical procedure in the United States, described the allegations levelled against as unfounded, adding that “the allegations of conspiracy, stealing, abuse of office and diversion of public funds being made against me did not arise as the records of my administration were clear and available for scrutiny.”
    According to Kuku who spoke with The Nation on the phone, “I am currently in the U.S for an urgent surgery on my knee at the Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Centre, United States and I will certainly return to honour the EFCC invitation once I recuperate in September.
    “The record of my stewardship under the Presidential Amnesty Programme is an open document and it is available for scrutiny since I have nothing to hide about what we did,” he explained.