Esther Ogbhue Denies Owing N15bn Recovered By EFCC From An Apartment In Ikoyi
The sacked Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC retail, Mrs. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbhue has denied owning the recovered N15billion nor own the apartment.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Wednesday uncovered yet another stash of foreign currencies and Naira notes in Lagos.
At the end of counting, the sums stood at $43.4 million, £27,800 and N23.2 million, the commission said in a statement on its Facebook page.
This time, the monies were found in a four-bedroom apartment on the 7th floor of a residential building at Osborne Towers located at 16, Osborne Road, Ikoyi.
According to reports, the said amount was said to have been by the ex-MD NNPC retails.
In a statement issued by her lawyer Emeka Etiaba SAN, Emeka Etiaba & Co, Etiaba Chambers on Thursday, Mrs. Ogbuhe said she was shocked as many other Nigerians at the uncovering and recovery of the said sums of money.
The statement reads: “The attention of Our Client, Mrs. Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue has been drawn to the news making round in the News Media 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.
“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”.
