*Kuku took it as loan via 35 transfers- Nwuche
*It’s a lie, I didn’t take a dime from you, Kuku replies Nwuche
*EFCC moves in to unravel whereabouts of cash

Soni Daniel, Northern Region Editor

WHY was the sum of N2.8 billion given to a contractor to train Niger Delta ex-militants converted to loan by the Presidential Amnesty Programme between 2012 and 2013?

In the same vein,  how did the money officially released for the training of no fewer than 319 Niger Delta youths end up in the bank accounts of individuals, groups and non-government agencies?

Kuku

These are the major riddles the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is trying to unravel and recover the huge cash from whoever took it in order to plough it back into the purpose for which it was appropriated in the first place.

And, the EFCC has already questioned several persons, bureaux de change owners and bank officials said to have played a role in the sharing of the cash thereby denying the Niger Delta boys the training opportunities in the Maritime industry.

But the company, which got the contract for the training of the Niger Delta youths, Foundation for Youth Development, whose Chairman is former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Prince Chibudom Nwuche, insisted yesterday that the N2.8 billion was taken as loan from his company to bridge cash shortfall under the leadership of Kingsley Kuku, the immediate past Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta.

Nwuche has released a set of documents to the EFCC, the Inspector General of Police and the House of Representatives Committee on Public Procurement and the Niger Delta, showing how the Amnesty Office through Kuku and his aides collected the N2.8 billion, a claim dismissed as false and untenable by Kuku.

Nwuche stated in his submission to both the EFCC and the House of Reps Joint Committee on Niger Delta and Public Procurement that his firm, FYD, got the job worth over N5 billion for the training of  50 ex-Niger Delta agitators in Tati University College Malaysia, 183 ex-agitators in Haipong Polytechnics College Vietnam and World Maritime University and 72 delegates at Copenhagen Malmo Maritime Academy Sweden.

According to Nwuche, FYD successfully completed the training of the youths and were subsequently, granted additional three training contracts by the Presidential Amnesty Programme apparently because of the previous records of success by the firm.

The three additional training contracts were awarded to FYD on June 19, 2012 by PAP for the training of ex-militants on Welding and Mechanical Engineering at Tati University College, Malaysia, Vocational Construction Training in Viglacera Vocational College, Malaysia on August 8, 2012 and the Training in Information Technology and Construction in Akademi Binnah Malaysia on September 17, 2012.

However, Nwuche complained that as soon as Kuku paid him mobilisation for the jobs, he began to plead with him to give him some money as loan so as to settle the stipends of ex-militants due to a shortfall in cash.

Nwuche’s firm said, “On the 26th of March 2012, a request to intervene on students’ stipends and some ex-militant leaders was received from the Amnesty Office. The sum requested was for $1 million cash and N60 million was beyond the scope of FYD Corporate Social Responsibility Programme. A clarification was sought by Hon Chibudom Nwuche and the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs, Hon Kingsley Kuku, who made the request, then clarified that it was a loan request and would be paid back when the agency received funds from the Accountant General’s Office.

“We received various requests for loan for the payment of stipends to the ex-militants and their leaders and various stakeholders in support of the government Amnesty Programme and made disbursement to the tune of N2,864,584,979 on the instruction of the Special Adviser to the President, Hon. Kingsley Kuku between 26th of March 2012 and 3rd of May 2013.

“These requests were made by Kuku to the Chairman of FYD, Prince Chibudom Nwuche. The sum was disbursed to some beneficiaries known to Kuku and his intermediary, Dr. Iyamu,  who was introduced to us as Liaison Officer on ex-militants and stakeholders matter. The period of these last disbursements was between the 10th of September 22 and 3rd of May 2013.

Withdrawals and payments

According to documents made available to EFCC, IGP and the joint Committee of the House of Representatives on Niger Delta and Public Procurement, FYD paid the cash as follows on Kuku’s instruction: 9/10/ 12- $2m withdrawn through Shilon BDC; 21/ 11/ 12—$1.4m  from Abdullahi BDC; 26/3/12—$1m paid through DLH BDC Limited to Kuku’s aide, Dr. Iyamu 4/5/12 ($500,000); 22/11/12-cash of $1.2m through Gadlam Global Investment; $721,000 cash handed over to Iyamu on 5/3/2013 through Skyegate BDC;  17/4/13-cash of $2m through Cannew Nigeria Limited handed over to Kuku’s aide;  and 19/4/13- about $758,000 handed over to Andrew by Hand to Hand BDC.

Other withdrawals include 22/11/12——$300,000; 11/08/12- cash of $695,000; 11/9/12—$137,908; 20/11/12—$435,000; $500,000 through Nigare BDC.

“But on the 7th of December 2012, we demanded for refund of sum advanced and on the 21st of June 2013, we requested for the liquidation disbursement of the N2,864,584,979. Kuku complained of shortfall in budget passed by the National Assembly and promised to refund when supplementary budget is passed.

“We progressed with the screening of the delegates after substitution of training institutions, procured international passports, secured admission letters, made deposit for admission space and accommodation. When screening was being done, we sent another reminder to Kuku on 4th September, 2014. But a mail was received from Amnesty Office through Mr. Lewis Ekiyor to stop issuance of delegates to FYD.

Nwuche lamented that his company was facing financial stress as a result of the refusal of Kuku to refund the N2.8 billion to him many years after, thereby exposing him to trouble with the EFCC and the Amnesty Office.

He also drew attention that in his bid to get the Niger Delta ex-agitators the required sea time training as prescribed under his contract, he secured a training vessel ‘Team Liwa’ since 2013 and placed it on standby in Port Harcourt incurring a debt of N3.2 billion in the process.

“It is important to note that as a very careful and diligent citizen working for responsible organisation, it is expedient to seek thorough investigation into this fraudulent attempt to fleece our company. It is obvious that Kuku used his office to obtain funds from us under false pretence.

Kuku kicks, says Nwuche lied

However, Kuku vehemently denied ever directly or indirectly collecting any money from Nwuche’s firm, wondering why he would ever contemplate doing so when the PAP was properly funded during his tenure as the SA.

In a statement made available to Vanguard yesterday, Kuku admitted awarding the said contracts to Nwuche’s firm, FYD, but denied turning round to demand or collect any loan from the company, as claimed.

Kuku said, “It is not true that I, Hon. Kingsley Kuku, the Former Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, at any time, particularly while in office, received in whatever guise (loan or otherwise) any money for myself or on behalf of the Amnesty Office from a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Chibudom Nwuche.

“The claim by Nwuche that I received money from him, by way of a loan advance to run the Amnesty Office amounting to the sum of  N2, 864, 584, 979.00  is totally false. I deem this claim by Chibudom Nwuche as not just a figment of his apparently warped imagination but also provocative, spurious and preposterous.

“Indeed, I wish to aver that throughout the period I served as the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, I never ever took any loan either in my personal capacity or on behalf of the Presidential Amnesty Office from Hon. Chibudom Nwuche or any one for that matter.