EFCC arrests ex-Deputy Speaker, Uwuche, for N5bn alleged fraud

A former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chief Chibudom Nwuche, has been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, for an alleged N5.6bn contract scam.

Nwuche, who served at the lower legislative chamber between 1999 and 2003, was detained after responding to an EFCC invitation on Monday.

The suspect, who also served as the Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party under the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, allegedly got three contracts from the Kingsley Kuku-led Presidential Amnesty Office.

Detectives at the EFCC, however, told our correspondent that Nwuche, who had since defected to the All Progressives Congress, allegedly helped Kuku to launder N2.8bn under the guise of sending ex-militants for training in 2012.

A source at the commission said, “Nwuche is being investigated over an alleged N5.6bn contract which his company, Foundation  For Youth Development, allegedly received from the Kingsley Kuku-led Presidential Amnesty Office.

“He allegedly got three contracts from the Amnesty Office in 2012 for the training of ex-agitators in Malaysia. Up till now, nothing was done about the contract yet, he collected N2.8bn,” an investigator said.

According to the detective, the money was allegedly laundered through some companies, individuals and bureau de change operators back to Kuku, through a front who is also being investigated by the EFCC.

As of 8pm on Monday, Nwuche was still being quizzed by detectives.

Meanwhile, the EFCC is still investigating Kuku, who was a Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs.

Kuku, who is believed to be in the United States, was invited by the EFCC for questioning sometime last year but failed to honour the invitation. In a letter written by his lawyers, the former aide said he was had  a knee surgery and would honour the invitation when he returned from where he was receiving treatment.

However, two of Kuku’s ex-aides, Henry Ugbolue and Lawrence Pepple, have been arraigned on two separate charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, false declaration of asset and fraudulent acquisition of property to the tune of N55m.

Meanwhile, a  former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, says an agency of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government is planning to arrest him again despite his ongoing trial in a Federal High Court for alleged N4.9bn fraud.

Fani-Kayode said this in a Facebook post on Monday titled, ‘Nigeria’s third Mahdi and the last of the Amalekite Kings.’

The former minister said, “I have chosen to share my views about our nation today because I am aware of the fact that President (Muhammadu) Buhari has not finished with me yet and I may be picked up and thrown into detention on other trumped up charges very soon. This government will do and say anything to silence my voice but they shall not prevail.” 

Culled from The Punch Newspaper