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FBI Expose Chimaroke Nnamani, Explains How He Stole $41m As Enugu Governor
FBI Expose Chimaroke Nnamani, Explains How He Stole $41m As Enugu Governor
A statement obtained by Peoples Gazette reveals how Chimaroke Nnamani stole $41.8 million from Enugu State treasury.
The statement shows how he used the ill-gotten riches to acquire luxury assets in Florida , USA .
The 2009 complaint seen by The Gazette said Mr Nnamani, whom the FBI described as an American citizen, connived with his sister Chinero Nwigwe to steal public funds when he led Enugu between May 1999 and May 2007. Peter Mbah, Sam Ejiofor and Chika Ohaa were also named in the court documents as Mr Nnamani’s co-conspirators.
The FBI said Mr Nnamani, a medical doctor, stole $41.868,877.05 in one of several illicit schemes he pulled as Enugu governor. Authorities said the money was about N5.3 billion at the time, but it’s now worth around N31 billion today.
The FBI had argued that “Chimaroke Nnamani’s official salary as governor is the equivalent of $10,670 per year; thus, it appears unlikely that Nnamani possesses an adequate source of legitimate income to account for the purchase” of the lush real estate he amassed in Florida.
Judge Williams Acker of the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama ordered forfeitures of Mr Nnamani’s assets to the U.S. government after finding that the Nigerian politician was not earning enough as governor to justify the millions of dollars in his possession.
Mr Nnamani, who has recently cut himself as a moral, prudent leader devoid of corrupt practices long typical of a Nigerian politician, did not return The Gazette’s request seeking comments about his U.S. corruption case, which has gone unreported until now and comes days after he was nominated as a senior member of the presidential campaign council of Bola Tinubu.
Although it was unclear whether or not Mr Nnamani has accepted Mr Tinubu’s job offer to serve in the All Progressives Congress’ presidential campaign despite being a senator and member of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, his failure to publicly comment on the development more than a week after it was announced has left even his staunch allies confused as to where he stands in Nigeria’s general elections coming up in February 2023.
American authorities further stated that Mr Nnamani was “involved in a scheme to defraud the State of Enugu, Federal Republic of Nigeria, in violation of Nigerian law since at least 2003 and continuing until at least 2005.”
Mr Nnamani opened 20 bank accounts with AmSouth Bank in Orlando, Florida, where he stashed his loot even while serving as governor and was fully aware that it was illegal to maintain bank accounts abroad as an elected public official in Nigeria. Mr Nnamani had set up a firm Rock City Group, LLC, to carry out the fraud, documents said.
Parts of the stolen funds were used to lock down posh assets in Florida, with authorities stating Mr Nnamani paid $1.8 million in cash to buy his Heathrow residence.
“On February 22, 2007, Nnamani paid a total of $1,800,000 in cash” to buy a proper at 1972 Bridgewater Drive, Heathrow, Florida, filings said.
Following a lengthy trial that began in July 2007, Judge Acker granted the FBI’s request to forfeit all properties linked to Mr Nnamani’s fraud to the U.S. government on May 13, 2009.
It was not immediately clear whether or not Mr Nnamani’s successors tried to pursue repatriation of his loot to the state, which has less than N150 billion in an annual budget that is largely unfunded. A spokesman for the state’s current administration did not return a request seeking comments.
It was also unclear whether or not the FBI filed separate criminal charges against Mr Nnamani, but the Nigerian politician had faced separate forfeiture proceedings in Nigeria and lost, especially in 2015 when a federal judge ordered forfeiture of some multibillion-naira assets linked to him in Nigeria.
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I Have An Idea For Govt, Families For February 14
-Ajadi
It is February 14, and Nigerian politician, entrepreneur and humanist, Ambassador Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo says he has an idea for governments, organisations and couples that would revolutionise society’s cohesion.
He in fact, has thrown a challenge to these quarters, concerning this year’s St Valentin’s Day, how they should celebrate it differently and more impactfully.
According to him, it should go beyond mere commemorations to heart-felt interventions and legacy projects that improve the wellbeing of people in the society
The entrepreneur-politician said, there could be no better way to join in an event that is synonymous with love, than sinking or implementing projects or programmes that truly touch the lives of the people, changing it for the better.
Sincere affection for the people, he said, should be enough motivation for others holding responsible positions in government, to go beyond tokenism this time but really provide for their people, life-transforming projects and policies.
Even for those who may not have material things to give, Ambassador Ajadi is of the opinion that the season of St Valentine, should motive them to love and care genuinely, shun greed, selfishness, wickedness, materialism bitterness, hate, murder, and the other vices which tend to characterise the society.
It is excellent to see individual lovers sharing cards and gifts at Valentine Day, but how about seeing projects tied to uplifting the people and improving their lifestyles being commissioned and handed over this season as a token of love”, he asked.
Commending organisations and individuals who usually reach out to the underprivileged during St Valentine Day every February 14, Ambassador Ajadi urged them not to relent, as they were fulfilling a great role in society for which they would be rewarded at due time.
“You will agree with me that, if we can imbibe this style of celebration, it will help us to achieve a lot improving the lives of our people, and making the society generally safer.
“It is something that any representative who truly loves his constituency should think about, execute a life impactful project, borne out of genuine love for your constituency that you can deliver during the season of February 14”.
Bemoaning the increasing hardship in the country, he urged Nigerians not to allow them to stop being one another’s keeper.
Ajadi who recently celebrated his marriage anniversary also challenged couples to use Valentina day celebration to renew their relationship.
According to him, families have a lot of roles to play in society even as healthy families will translate to healthy societies and vice versa.
“My admonition to couples is to use this February 14 Valentine’s Day to profess their love afresh to their partners.
“They should remember that they owe each other genuine affection and love, which will also show on their children.
“Let the love professed by St. Valentine on February 14 be seen in their actions towards one another.
“Let couples be there for each come rain, come shine and our society will be better again “.
Bemoaning the rampant cases of ritual killing, kidnapping and murders, he described them also as symptoms of a lack of genuine love in the society
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