KUKU CHARGED IN ABSENTIA

The Federal Government has filed a two-count charge on criminal conspiracy and fraudulent acquisition of property against former Senior Special Adviser to ex-President Good Luck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Kingsley Kuku.
Kuku, who was to be arraigned before Justice Mamman Kolo of the FCT High Court sitting in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja was, however, absent in the court.

Kuku, who is also a former Coordinator, Presidential Amnesty Programme, is charged along with one, Lawrence Pepple, who served as his a technical assistant.
Pepple‎ was specifically accused of ‘’knowingly acquiring interest in a private company where he is a Director and Sole signatory of the company’s account’’.
He was also accused of being employed in the public service as Technical Assistant on Reintegration to the Special Adviser on Niger Delta Affairs.

‎Kingsley Kuku and Henry Ogbolue, his Special Assistant on Media and Communication, were also to appear before the court on another two-count charge.

The charges border on criminal conspiracy and award of contract worth over N27 million to a private company which has Ogbolue as the sole signatory to the account of the company.
Ogbolue is specifically accused of deliberately failing to declare his assets located at Plot 261, Durumi, Abuja while filling his assets declaration form on the Sept. 4. 2015.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that though no reason was given for the absence of the two defendants, the court has fixed April 20 as new date for their arraignment.(NAN