The arraignment of the former Special Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta Affairs, Kingsley Kuku, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, High Court could not take place on Tuesday as the trial judge was absent.

Kingsley was to be arraigned along with his Special Assistant, Henry Ugbolue, on a three count charge of fraudulent acquisition of property, criminal conspiracy and false asset declaration.

However, when the case came up for hearing at the FCT High Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, the judge, Justice M. M. Kolo, was said to be unavailable.

Kuku, who has been declared wanted by the EFCC, for failing to answer invitations from the anti graft agent, was not in court but Ugbolue was brought for arraignment.

Kuku was originally scheduled to be arraigned with Ugbolue and Lawrence Pepple, Technical Assistant to the presidential aide, but at the court on Tuesday the charge sheet obtained by the www.icirnigeria.org involved only the former two.

Kuku and Ugbolue are accused of awarding a contract for the sum of N27,382,952.47 to a company in which they had interests.

Charge 1 accuses the duo of “fraudulent acquisition of property contrary to and punishable under Section 12 of the Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Act 2000.”

According to the charge, Ugbolue in November 2013 acquired interest in a company, Great and Gamaliel Alliance Ltd, to which Kuku awarded a contract of over N27 million “to provide integrated management of communication and stakeholders’ engagement chain for the office of the special adviser to the president on Niger Delta.” Ugbolue is said to be the sole signatory to the bank account of Great and Gamaliel.

The suspects are also accused of false declaration of assets.

Kuku, who is believed to be in the United States, attempted to stop the EFCC from investigating or arresting him but the Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Abuja dismissed his application, ruling that the agency had the power to investigate him for actions he took while in office.