Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, immediate past Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has debunked news reports of his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
A false news report on Wednesday claimed that Wabote was arrested over NCDMB’s investments in a modular refinery conceptualized by Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited for Brass Island in Bayelsa State.
In a telephone conversation with select journalists on Wednesday, Wabote denied that he was ever arrested by EFCC, insisting that he made a routine visit to the agency, just like they would invite any other person.
He stated that he honoured EFCC’s routine invitation on Tuesday, arrived at 2pm and left by 6.30pm, after writing his statement.
He said: “I was supposed to go there on the 29th of October but I wrote to them to say that I would be travelling out of the country and I will come when I return. Yesterday I walked in and they took my statement and I came home and slept.”
He explained that there was no fraud case involving Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited, rather it is the case of a company that is having cash flow challenges.
He also debunked the allegation that NCDMB under his leadership made a bad investment in Atlantic International Refinery and Petrochemical Limited.
According to him, “we invested in about 17 different opportunities and most of them are progressing, the only one that has a challenge is the Atlantic refinery. The promoter has not has walked away from the project. He has written to the NCDMB, telling the Board to give him a plan so he can buy them out. Even in the Board meeting they have taken a resolution. “He said he has a cash flow challenge and he will complete the project, but if you are not prepared to come along with me, agree with me a plan so that I can buy you out. So it is just a business that has a challenge. It has nothing to do with fraud and nothing to do with scam.”
He expressed disappointment that media persons will fabricate falsehood just to destroy someone’s reputation.
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