The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned two ex-aides to Kingsley Kuku, a former Special Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, Henry Ugbolue and Lawrence Pepple; on two separate charges bordering on criminal conspiracy, false declaration of assets and fraudulent acquisition of property to the tune of N55m.
The accused persons were arraigned before Justice M. M. Kolo of a Federal Capital Territory High Court sitting in Wuse, Abuja.
According to the EFCC, Ugbolue, who was the Special Assistant, Media and Communications; and Pepple, the former Technical Assistant on Reintegration, were to be arraigned alongside their principal, Kuku, but due to his (Kuku) continued absence in court, his name was removed from the charge to enable the two others to enter their plea.
Kuku and Ugbolue were alleged to have conspired among themselves and awarded contracts running into millions to companies in which they had interests.
Ugbolue, according to the anti-graft agency, is the sole signatory of Great & Gamaliel Alliance Limited, the company which provided integrated management of communications and stakeholders’ engagement chain for the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta.
Pepple is director and sole signatory for KER Global Wave Limited which was awarded a contract to provide Reintegration Support Services by the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta Affairs under the Presidential Amnesty Programme.
