DSS, EFCC may clash over Jonathan’s ex-aide Kuku

The Cold War between two Nigerian government agencies, the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) may soon take another dimension.

The DSS on Sunday accused an anti-graft agency in the country of shielding a former Special Adviser to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku, who it said is wanted for sponsoring militants in the Niger Delta area, thereby undermining security in that region.

The senior official of the DSS who revealed this, however refused to name the anti-graft agency involved.

He however let on that the said agency had been purportedly investigating Kuku on corruption allegations.

The EFCC is the known government agency that has been probing Kuku over how funds for the Amnesty programme under Jonathan were handled.

The DSS official said, “It is sad to note that, in the course of our investigation, we discovered that an agency, which is also saddled with an investigative authority, is rather creating a platform for criminal fugitives.

“We discovered, in particular, a fugitive, who is widely known to have looted our commonwealth, still has the audacity to use the machinery of that particular agency to harass and haunt adversaries who are aware of his loot and heinous crimes.

Read also: Why DSS besieged PenCom office

“From our findings, we discovered that the agency in reference is now in criminal connivance with fugitive Kingsley Kuku, a former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on the Federal Government Amnesty Programme on the Niger Delta.

“Sadly enough, the agency in question, which claims to be investigating the fraud, is ironically directly and brazenly facilitating the concealment of the looted several billions of naira belonging to the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme.”

“It is rather disturbing that a man, who is believed to be funding some illegal raids such as the one carried out on the residence of former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Chibudom Nwuche, is planning to assume the behind-the-scene leadership of the unified South-South arms struggle to gain relevance in the current government.”

The secret police said this is aimed at avoiding possible searchlight on the atrocities committed during his tenure as Special Adviser for the Amnesty Programme.

He continued that “The fugitive is also one of the sponsors of the Niger Delta Avengers and the large scale sabotage against the oil pipelines across the Niger Delta (2015 – 2017). Yet this particular agency is working hand in gloves with him, shielding him from the law but I’m certain this is an issue that will not be swept under the carpet.”

It would be recalled that the Senate had twice rejected the nomination of acting chairman of the EFCC, Ibrahim Magu to head the agency in substantive capacity based on reports from the DSS which accused him of being corrupt.

 

 

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