[UAH] A CRITICAL EYE ON NIGERIA

Nigeria Former Nigeria’s UN Envoy In N400 Billion Scam

Published on Saturday, 29 June 2013 21:36

By Greenbarge Reporters

 

 

Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (UN), Professor Joy Ogwu is fighting tooth and nail to extricate herself from the alleged sales of Federal Government property in Washington D.C. which raked in a total sum of $23.5 Million (about N400 Billion). She swore she never autrhorised such sale during her tenure as foreign minister from 2006-2007.
In an interview, Ogwu said she had to clarify the matter to douse what she called “malicious misinformation” making the rounds in the media.
She spoke against the background of her invitation by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs investigating the alleged embezzlement of 23.5 million dollars from the Nigerian embassy in Washington D.C. The funds were said to be proceeds from the sale of three Federal Government houses in Washington D.C. between 2004-2007.
The Senate probe might not be unconnected with a petition written and submitted to the upper chamber of the National Assembly by one Mr. David Elombah.
Ogwu acknowledged that the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs invited her in connection to a petition concerning misappropriation and embezzlement of funds by the Nigerian ambassador to the U.S. and others.
According to the former envoy, she appeared before the senate on June 27 and categorically emphasised that she neither received any request nor granted authorisation to any ambassador concerning the sale of Nigerian properties in Washington D.C.
“Indeed, projects of such enormity are traditionally for the consideration of the Federal Executive Council.
“It is very instructive to note that I was not invited to the Senate in my present capacity as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the UN, because I am not under trial.
“I was invited in my capacity as former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and the property and the attendant proceeds are in Washington D.C and I have absolutely nothing to do with it.”
She observed that she had been erroneously portrayed as having appeared before the Senate in her capacity as Nigeria’s Permanent Representative at the UN.
“Some reports have even labelled me as a former Nigeria ambassador to the U.S., who succeeded Prof. George Obiozor.
“That is wrong because I have never been Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S,” she stressed.
Only yesterday, Friday, the Ministry of Foreign Affiairs strongly denied that 23 million dollars was embezzled at its diplomatic mission in Washington D.C.
The ministry statement came after Obiozor, Nigeria’s current Ambassador to U.S, Prof. Ade Adefuye, and Ogwu testified before the senate committee in a closed-door session.
According to the statement, “all monies involved in the sale of Federal Government properties were duly and completely accounted for.”
It went further to claim that the sales were duly authorised by former President Olusegun Obasanjo and appealed to the public to be patient and await the final report of the senate committee probing the allegation.

 

 

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