Posted by By Oluokun Ayorinde/Abuja & Eromosele Ebhomele on
Embattled Director-General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Professor Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, is still being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over an alleged N100 million she raised for U.S. Democratic Presidential candidate, Barack Obama.
Embattled Director-General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Professor Ndi Okereke-Onyiuke, is still being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), over an alleged N100 million she raised for U.S. Democratic Presidential candidate, Barack Obama.
The spokesman of the anti-graft agency, Femi Babafemi, told P.M.News this morning, that she has not been let off the hook completely, but declined to give further details. Meanwhile, the NSE boss has denied raising funds for the Democratic presidential candidate in America.
Onyiuke, whose passport was seized by EFCC operatives, said at no time did her group, ‘Africans for Obama 2008', announce that it was raising funds or soliciting donations for Obama's campaign.
According to her, as a prelude to the dinner and concert, the group held a world press conference, where it reiterated that ‘Africans for Obama 2008' is not a fund raising group for Obama's election.
'The dinner/concert was meant for willing individuals who share Obama's vision and they were entertained by some of the top class artistes in Nigeria,' she said, adding that those who attended the event were not coerced as reported by some sections of the media.
'This is misleading. They participated by buying tickets out of their own volition and from their personal resources…. not corporate,' she stated.
The Director-General said she told the gathering at the event that any surplus funds, after the accounts have been prepared by chattered accountants, would be utilized for advertisements, including online, to encourage Africans that are of voting status, and all other Americans to exercise their franchise.
'What ‘Africans for Obama 2008' is doing is not in anyway different from any group of individuals worldwide,' Okereke-Onyuike stated in a paid advertisement.
She affirmed that individuals in the group were also green card holders and American citizens residing in Africa, who are familiar with the spirit and letter of the law.
'They understand the American Electoral Law, particularly the Foreign Election Campaign Act (FECA), 1974, which prohibits foreign nationals from donating funds in connection with election,' the NSE boss stated.
Onyiuke disclosed that the event was only designed to sensitize and mobilize Africans worldwide and other eligible USA citizens to register and vote 'instead of passively watching history being made.'