*Accuses him of paying millions of dollars in cash for his Florida properties
*I’m innocent, it’s campaign of calumny, Nnamani insists
Senator Chimaroke Nnamani of Enugu-West Senatorial Zone; the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate, Engr. Peter Mbah; retired Federal Permanent Secretary, Chief Chinyeaka Ohaa and a former commissioner in the state, Chief Sam Ejiofor, have been named listed as having looted and laundered $41.8 million belonging to Enugu State, when Chimaroke was governor.
According to the US Federal Bureau of Intelligence (FBI) in a statement submitted in a forfeiture proceeding, Chimaroke in particular, used the stolen money to acquire luxury assets in Florida.
Meanwhile, Sen. Nnamani has denied knowledge of any pending suit against him, or ever stealing such an amount of money, saying it is political witch-hunt.
But the complaint filed by the FBI in 2009 alleged that Nnamani, who was described as an American citizen, “connived with his sister, Chinero Nwigwe, to steal public funds when he (Nnamani) led Enugu state between May 1999 and May 2007”.
Similarly, Peter Mbah, Sam Ejiofor and Chika Ohaa were named in the court documents as Mr Nnamani’s co-conspirators.
The FBI said Sen. Nnamani, a medical doctor, stole $41.868,877.05 in one of several illicit schemes he pulled as Enugu governor.
Sources said the stolen money was about N5.3 billion at the time, but it’s now worth around N31 billion today.
The FBI had argued in their court statement 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 the forfeitures of Mr Nnamani’s assets to the US government after finding that the Nigerian politician was not earning enough as governor to justify the millions of dollars in his possession.
Sen. Nnamani, who has recently cut himself as a moral, prudent leader devoid of corrupt practices, did not return The Gazette’s request seeking comments about the corruption case earlier in the day.
The US authorities further alleged that 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.
“Part of the stolen funds were used to lock down posh assets in Florida”, with authorities stating that 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”, they alleged.
Following a lengthy trial that began in July 2007, Judge Acker granted the FBI’s request to forfeit all properties linked to Nnamani’s fraud to the U.S. government on May 13, 2009.
It was not immediately clear whether or not Nnamani’s successors tried to pursue repatriation of his loot to the state.
A spokesman for the state’s current administration did not return a request seeking comments, according to reports.
It was also unclear whether or not the FBI filed separate criminal charges against Nnamani, but the Nigerian politician had faced separate forfeiture proceedings in Nigeria and lost, especially in 2015 when a Federal High Court Judge ordered forfeiture of some multibillion-naira assets linked to him in Nigeria.
*Nnamani denies any fraudulent act
Nnamani, currently representing Enugu-East zone has however described as a ruse, report of the $41.8 million judgement against him.
In a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists in Abuja, the lawmaker said the report was fake news and targeted at maligning him because of his alternative views on the recent political development in the country.
He said the allegations are: “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.
“If I cannot express my opinion and take a stand, who will?
“There was no such judgement anywhere. The author of the fake news is a known blackmailer. I’m not surprised that he has offered himself as a willing tool for this hatchet job once again.
“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 alike to ignore the mischievous report sponsored by political foes and professional blackmailers,” Sen. Nnamani said.
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