PRESS STATEMENT ON THE ALLEGED MISAPPROPRIATION OF $27m BY THE NIGERIAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to refer to its earlier Press Release of 28th June, 2013, responding to the media report on the sale of Federal Government properties in Washington DC and to further clarify as follows:-

(i) That Professor U. Joy Ogwu was invited by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, only in her capacity as a former Foreign Minister, to testify as to the events that occurred during her tenure as Foreign Minister (2006 – 2007) regarding the sale of Government Houses in Washington DC, United States, and proceeds therefrom;

(ii) That the subject matter is the petition concerning alleged misappropriation and embezzlement of funds by Nigerian Ambassadors to the United States during the period under review and others following the afore-mentioned sale of Federal Government properties;

(iii) That three former Foreign Ministers were invited by the Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs to aid the Committee's fact finding exercise, but only Professor Ogwu has so far appeared before the Committee;

(iv) That Professor Ogwu, who is currently the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations, has never served as Nigeria's Ambassador to the United States as misrepresented in the media.

2. The Ministry hopes that this information would be brought to the attention of the reading public.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Abuja
1 July 2013