EFCC holds former Deputy Speaker for Amnesty Contract Scam

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has arrested former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in the Obasanjo regime, Chief Chibudom Nwuche, for an alleged N5.6bn contract scam.

Hon. Nwuche served at the House of Representatives between 1999 and 2003 under the umbrella of the People’s Democratic Party.

The former lawmaker was detained when he responded to a request by the Efcc as he allegedly got three contracts from the Kingsley Kuku-led Presidential Amnesty Office.

Detectives at the EFCC, however, said Nwuche, 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.

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 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 had a knee surgery and would honour the invitation when he returned.