FORMER Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, has refuted news making the rounds that the N15billion uncovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday, April 12 belonged to her.
The stash of money found in a residential building at Osborne Estate, Ikoyi was said to belong to the former NNPC boss, but she was quick to deny the allegation, commending the EFCC for their continuous anti-corruption crusade.
“The attention of our client, Mrs Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue, has been drawn to the news making round in to the effect that the large sums of money to wit: $38,000,000.00 (Thirty-Eight Million Dollars), N23,000,000.00 (Twenty-Three Million Naira) and £27,000.00 (Twenty-Seven Thousand Pounds) uncovered by the Economic and Financial Crimes (EFCC) from an apartment in Osborne Towers, Osborne Road, Ikoyi Lagos, Lagos State belong to her.
“By this press release, we inform the public (especially the news media) that the said sums of money and/or the apartment where the sums of money were found do not belong to our client,” a statement issued through her lawyer, Emeka Etiaba.
It further read that “Our client is as shocked as many other Nigerians at the uncovering and recovery of the said sums of money and wishes to salute the courage and efforts of the EFCC in the war against corruption.
“She also wishes to commend the whistle blowing policy introduced by the Federal Government in the fight against corruption, which policy has resulted in large scale uncovering and recovery of monies and assets.
“It is our client’s belief that the source and ownership of the said uncovered sums of money is known or eventually will be known by the EFCC in due course. There is, therefore, no need for conjecture or speculation,” it said.
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