Kingsley Kuku
Kingsley Kuku, former special adviser on amnesty to former president Goodluck Jonathan has alleged there is an on-going plot to arrest him for terrorism.
The former presidential aide, in a press release on Friday, November 27, alleged that some “hawks in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari” are conspiring with security agencies in the country to arrest him at the airport upon his return to Nigeria on charges bordering on terrorism, The Cable reports.
According to Kuku, his decision to voice out became necessary following an online media report by a spectral Kano-based group, National Security Watchdog, which claimed that “there was incontrovertible evidence linking him (Kuku) to terrorist acts and illegal stockpiling of arms.”
The group also called on the Attorney-General of the Federation to initiate proceedings for his extradition in order to face terrorism charges.
A statement by Kuku reads: “The claim by this group must not be taken lightly by either the government or well-meaning Nigerians. This is because a few months ago, I received information that a security agency was plotting to link me with acts of terrorism falsely.
“This information with the evidence is already before a law court, for which the security agency has denied. It is therefore not a coincidence that a shadowy group in the name of National Security Watchdog was created to reinforce their claim.
“As a peace-loving Nigerian, I have worked for the peace, progress and prosperity of our dear country over the last one and a half decades. I am therefore shocked that such dastardly and criminal activity could be linked to me.
“Having failed to gather concrete evidence of misappropriation of funds against me, these persons are now fishing for evidence to link me with terrorism. They will definitely fail again.
“Since 2007 when I was appointed secretary of the federal government committee on peace and conflict Resolution in the Niger Delta, I have rendered committed and selfless service to Nigeria.
“It is on record that during my tenure as presidential adviser on Niger Delta and chairman of the presidential amnesty programme, kidnapping and other criminal activities in the Niger Delta were reduced to the barest minimum.
“Working with the state governments in the region, stakeholders, prominent ex-agitation leaders as well as security and intelligence agencies of government, we were able to contain the ugly spectre of criminality, kidnapping and related crimes in the Niger Delta. It is rather unfortunate that just six months after the Goodluck Jonathan administration left office, insecurity in the region has risen sharply.”
Kuku had been declared wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after allegations of diverting billions of naira meant for amnesty programmes to former militants in the Niger Delta region.
The EFCC froze the bank accounts of the Keketobou Foundation, the charity organisation owned by Kingsley Kuku.
However, a federal high court has barred anti-graft agencies from arresting or probing him.
According to the court’s ruling, the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) are barred from arresting, detaining and investigating Kuku’s activities as head of the amnesty office.
The ruling also affects the department of the State Security Services, the Nigerian police force, the Nigerian Immigration Service and National Security Civil Defence Corps.
Justice Valentine Ashi insisted that none of the anti-graft and security agencies should take any action on the alleged fraud pending the determination of a suit filed before the court.
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