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Learn more on the $27Million missing Real Estate properties in United States beneath: New York[RR] ABUJA--Update: Missing $27M: Adefuye, Ashiru, Ogwu And Cronies Sweating Over Looted $27Million Real-Estate Funds, As Senate Investigates, Republic Reporters has learnt. In accordance with Vanguard, investigation to the alleged misappropriation of $27 million realized from the sale of prime properties belonging to the Nigerian Embassy in Washington DC and Maryland in the United States of America (USA), is Onn. It said: "The probe is being handled by Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by James Manager (PDP Delta South). The funds were said to be proceeds that accrued from the properties sold between 2004 and 2007.
"Almost immediately, the embassy also allegedly began another sale of a fifth property located in San Francisco, California also in the USA. The embezzlement allegation was found in a three-page petition to Senate President, David Mark, and dated January 21 by an anti-corruption body located in Nigeria – Transform Nigeria Movement. Embattled Nigerian Ambassador to the United States Ade Adefuye, said hours ago: "I have no turn in the missing $23.5Million, I met only $10Million in in account", he said. He said alleged missing $27Million accrued from Real Estate property sales in the United States between 2004 and 2007, is false, "I met $23.5Million..",
when i resumed office, President Jonathan authorized us to utilize the $10Million left for necessary restructuring at the Embassy, in the U.S, without explaining what restructuring took place at Nigerian Embassy in the United States..", he told reporters.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Permanent Ambassador to the United Nations (UN) Professor Joy Ogwu, has disassociated herself from the looted Real Estate funds, that went missing between 2007 to 2012, when it absolutely was revealed the funds placed into special account at Manufacturing And Trading Bank (M & T Bank) in Washington,DC was drawn down with less than 400,000.00 dollars left in the account when it absolutely was closed down by United States banking industry as a result of "money laundering", by Nigerian diplomatic officials at the Nigerian Embassy in Washington, DC, United States. Ms. Ogwu told reporters, She: "Had to clarify the situation 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 considered arises from the sale of three Federal Government houses in Washington D.C. between 2004-2007.
She however, acknowledged that the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs invited her in link with a petition concerning misappropriation and embezzlement of funds by the Nigerian ambassador to the U.S. and others. Based on the former envoy, she appeared prior to 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's very instructive to note that I was not invited to the Senate within my present capacity as Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the UN, because I'm not under trial.
“I was invited within my capacity as former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria and the property and the attendant proceeds come in Washington D.C and I've absolutely nothing regarding it.”She observed that she have been erroneously portrayed as having appeared prior to the Senate in her capacity as Nigeria's Permanent Representative at the UN.Ms. Ogwu fumed that: “Some reports have even labelled me as a former Nigeria ambassador to the U.S., who succeeded Prof.
George Obiozor.“That's wrong because I haven't been Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S,” she stressed. "In a letter dated June 10, I was invited by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs on a petition concerning misappropriation and embezzlement of funds by the Nigerian ambassador to the U.S. and others. "Paragraph two of the letter states that I'm invited to the meeting within my capacity as former foreign affairs minister 2006-2007. "In my testimony prior to the senate committee on June 27, it absolutely was categorically emphasised that I 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 see that I wasn't invited to the Senate in my own present capacity as Nigeria's Permanent Representative to the UN, because I'm not under trial. "I was invited in my own 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 regarding it." The former minister noted that the clarification became pertinent following what she called "malicious misinformation" making the rounds in the media. She observed that she have been erroneously portrayed as having appeared prior to 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's wrong because I haven't been Nigerian Ambassador to the U.S," she stressed. - In another front, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, curiously stated that $27 Million or $23.5million wasn't missing at the Nigerian Embassy in the United States, without giving details. Ashiru, who had been visibly sweating in Abuja heat told reporters in FCT-Abuja. said the sale of Federal "Government property in Washington DC was duly authorised by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, but may not explain how the funds were interested in significantly less than $400,000.00 as M & T Bank closes the Special accounts on allegations of fraud and multiple money laundries. In the statement he explained: “The eye of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been interested in the above-mentioned allegation as carried in most national newspapers of Friday, June 28, 2013.
“The newspapers reported a public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, where Nigeria's former Ambassador to the United States, Prof. George Obiozor, Nigeria's current Ambassador to the same Mission, Prof. Ade Adefuye, and Nigeria's current Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York, Prof. Joy Ogwu appeared. “The Committee was meeting to investigate allegations of the embezzlement of $27 million, being arises from the sale of Federal Government properties in Washington DC. The Ministry, however, wishes to share with the general public as follows:That monies involved in the sale of Federal Government properties were duly and completely accounted for..
." he said, but by who? Embattled Ambassador Adefuye was reportedly left his Ambassadorial post in Washington,DC, and was "virtually sleeping at EFCC's office FCT-Abuja", anonymous FCT-Abuja eyewitnesses told Republic Reporters. Ashiru added: ""The human body requested the Senate to probe how the said funds disappeared between 2004 and 2007."During the sale of the properties, the Nigerian government, through the embassy in Washington, engaged the services of ECULAW Law firm which handled the sales and lodged the proceeds with respect to the embassy in to a special account with the Washington DC based M & T Bank. The bank was speculated to be holding deposits of huge proceeds from the property sales until George Obiozor who was then Nigeria's Ambassador to the U.S. returned to Nigeria after completing his service in Washington.
The funds which allegedly yielded substantial monthly curiosity about the M & T Bank remained in the special accounts throughout the tenure of Obiozor's successor, Oluwole Rotimi. Daily Independent newspaper reported that the petitioners said: the funds “mysteriously disappeared” once the incumbent envoy, Adebowale Adefuye, took over from Rotimi, who was fired by late Yar'Adua for insubordination to then Foreign Affairs Minister Ojo Maduekwe, whom he called "Biafran Ragtag, he defeated during Biafran-Nigerian hostilities between 1967 to 1970.
The disappearance of the funds, based on the petition, became evident when M & T Bank was forced to turn off the accounts of the embassy and subsequently terminated all banking relations with the embassy in early 2012. According to the petition, all the three accounts owned by the Nigerian Embassy in the custody of M & T Bank, like the $27 million proceeds from property sales were allegedly drawn right down to barely $400,000 at the time the accounts were closed. Since March 2012, there has not been any explanation of the whereabouts of the money that was alleged to stay the lender at the time Adefuye assumed office as Nigeria's envoy.
In 2009, about $3 million realised from a similar transaction was directly used on the purchase of a house in Russia. The National Assembly reportedly held a public hearing about the misapplied funds. "The petitioners are worried that the Federal Government hasn't done anything to trace the funds before anti-corruption body allegedly petitioned the Senate. Even Adefuye who is thought to will be in Abuja for quite a long time before time for Washington recently, was allegedly not quizzed by government or the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
The group, therefore, urged the Senate to investigate the case with a view to recovering the missing funds. Senate also at plenary on Thursday approved the nomination of Emmanuel Adegboyega Aremo as new Secretary of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Meanwhile, key witness to the sales of the Real Estate property Ephraim Emeka Ugwuonye a US-based lawyer during whose tenure since the Emassy's attorney the said $27 million was realized from property sales, is scheduled to testify prior to the Nigerian Senate Committee investigating the looted funds tomorrow, Monday, July 1, 2013, prior to the Senate Foreign Affairs Committee tomorrow in an in depth door exercise. Ugwuonye said: "
“I look forward to it, really. But everbody knows, it is quite a serious business. I wish to also add that I would be busy staying alive and unharmed till that moment,” Ugwuonye, who is currently in fee dispute with the Embassy, said today on his Facebook wall. He also alleged that he was trailed by possibly attackers. "“Well, I don't want to panic anybody, but yesterday evening, my car was followed. It had been too obvious my car had been followed. I won't discuss the important points without exposing how and why there was no incident in the end. But when I get the ability to right a memoir, I will disclose the drama of yesterday's evening. Because of this incident, I'd either not step out today or I'd follow a different route if I do.” More update later...
