A former Governor of Enugu State, Senator Chimaroke Nnamani, has said that the story published by some online media that he forfeited $41.8million to the United States government was a concocted report.
Nnamani revealed that the story was fabricated by supporters of the standard bearer of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, after he openly pledged support for the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The former governor was also alleged to have openly waged a relentless war against supporters of Obi on social media.
Nnamani added that the online medium that published the story, gazettengr.com deleted the story and the web links after he reacted and faulted the report, but that some other platforms are still running the news.
He said in a statement, which he personally signed and made available to journalists in Abuja, that the report was concocted to malign him because of his alternative views on the political development in the country.
“Campaign of calumny, intimidation, insults and abuse orchestrated to suppress and diminish my voice.
“However my voice will grow louder and more persistent. I know my recent position will attract this attack by those who cannot tolerate alternative views. Democracy allows alternative viewpoints.
“There was no such judgement anywhere. I left Enugu State on a solid foundation 15 years ago. Records of our accomplishments is an open book. No amount of mudslinging can rewrite our history.
“I urge our people and Nigerians generally to ignore the mischievous report sponsored by political foes and professional blackmailers,” he said.
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According to the report, Nnamani was accused of stealing $41.8million from Enugu treasury while he was governor between 1999 and 2007.
The online medium claimed that Nnamani used the stolen fund to acquire assets in the U.S. which had now been forfeited, following a forfeiture proceeding by the FBI.
The report claimed that Judge Williams Acker of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama made the forfeiture order.
It was, however, stated that there was no such report by the Department of Justice in the Northern District of Alabama.
