Fraud: Former Amnesty Programme chairman, Kuku, to visit EFCC Sep 30

Kingsley KukuImmediate past chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Kingsley Kuku, who is recuperating from a knee surgery in a United States hospital, has said he will honour the invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on September 30.

Kuku, who was also Special Adviser on Niger Delta to former President Goodluck Jonathan, disclosed this on Wednesday through his Media Consultant, Dan Ebi.

He said though he would not have fully recovered, he will be at the Commission on that day as a law-abiding and patriotic Nigerian.

A Federal Capital Territory High Court on Tuesday restrained the EFCC, Inspector General of Police, Department of State Security and others security agencies from arresting the former presidential aide.

There are claims that the security agencies had laid ambush to arrest him when he returns to the country ahead of his appearance before the anti-graft agency.

Justice Valentine Ashi gave the restraining order after listening to arguments from counsel to the EFCC, ICPC and DSS and that of Kuku arising from suit No. CV/2695/2015 and a motion marked No: M/9541/2015 before the court.

A certified copy of the order signed by the Court Registrar, Balami, E.P, warned the respondents not to interfere with the freedom of the former presidential adviser pending the hearing and determination of the case.

The judge said: “The respondents whether by themselves, their agents, servants or privies howsoever else described are hereby jointly and severally restrained from arresting or in any way interfering with the liberty of and freedom of movement of the applicant hereof pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.

“The respondents whether by themselves, their agents, servants or privies howsoever else described are hereby jointly and severally restrained from obstructing the applicant from keeping his medical appointment at the Saint Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Centre, Alabama, United States of America by the seizure of his international passport and or any other manner pending the hearing and determination of the originating motion.”

Ebi said Kuku was ready to report to the EFCC to clear his name and would make the record of his administration available to the agency.

He however explained that the court did not order the stoppage of an ongoing probe of the Amnesty Programme under Kuku contrary to a media report.

Ebi stressed that as a law-abiding and patriotic citizen of Nigeria, Kuku is in support of the anti-corruption drive of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and would cooperate with all agencies of government.

“Kuku is ready and will unfailingly keep a date with the EFCC on September 30 as earlier scheduled,” Ebi said.