EFCC Begins Investigation into Former First Lady and Amnesty Boss

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) is set to invite a former first lady to explain the role in the sourcing and dispensing of huge sums of money by the Presidency in the last two weeks just before the 2015 general election.

According to reports, an estimated N1 trillion is said to have been channeled and distributed by the Amnesty Office to some top politicians who belong to the former ruling party, People’s Democratic Party.

The Sun newspaper reports that operatives of the EFCC noticed that the release of about 40 percent of the said sum was approved by the unnamed ex-first lady.

The Sun Newspapers also said that the EFCC is also investigating the source(s) of the funds, which is yet to be found- owing to the unavailability of the former Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Kingsley Kuku, in the country.

According to sources who spoke to The Sun, the departure of the Amnesty boss from the country had caused a delay in the investigations.

Kuku is said to have disbursed large sums of money, which was outside the amount appropriated to his office.

The EFCC is said to have received more than 14 petitions against the Amnesty chairman before he left the country.

The source stated that: “Ordinarily, he should have been here to defend himself against the petitions, but he has refused to show up. It is highly suspected that he is not in any hospital. It was all a dummy be sold to Nigerians. He left this country as soon as he sensed the EFCC may invite him to explain his role in the funds disbursement”.

Close associates of the former amnesty boss, including his personal assistants and driver, have been questioned over the misappropriated funds.