Kingsley Kuku
Former Special Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku, yesterday, denied allegation that he borrowed over N2.8 billion while in office as Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
His lawyer, Chief G. Ezeuko, SAN, denied claims credited to a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche, who in a suit before an Abuja High Court, said that the Amnesty Office, under Kuku, obtained from him, loans totalling N2, 864, 584, 979.00.
The EFCC had arrested Nwuche, for an alleged N5.6bn contract scam, which includes the money in question.
Ezeuko, SAN, maintained that his client could not have borrowed such money from Nwuche, as the Amnesty Programme was well funded under ex-President Jonathan.
He said: “I have been duly informed by my client, Kingsley Kuku, and I wholeheartedly believe him, that it is not true that he or the Amnesty Offfice owed Nwuche the aforementioned sum of money.
“He has told me that while he served as the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, he never borrowed money in his personal capacity or on behalf of the office from Nwuche.
“Rather, Kuku has informed my law firm that it is actually Chibudom Nwuche that is owing the Presidential Amnesty Office and the Federal Government of Nigeria, the said sum of N2, 864, 584, 979.00 being part payment to him to fund the contract awarded to his firm, Foundation for Youth Development, FYD, by the Amnesty Office 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.
“Kuku has informed me, and I believe him, that after being paid this huge sum of money to fund the contract, Nwuche and his firm, Foundation for Youth Development, failed to execute the contract as stipulated in the letter of award.
“I have been duly informed by my client, 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 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 Nwuche.”
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