The Chief Executive Officer of Ashford Industries Nigeria Limited, Mr. Okey Justine Ezeh has urged the general public to disregard publications by a cloned and faceless entity called Transperec IT and the “wicked” activities of Waheed Olagunju and Collins Chike Chikeluba.
Ezeh who made this appeal while responding to a malicious report linked to the Transparency International by a group called Transperec IT observed that upon thorough investigation, it was discovered that Mr. Waheed Olagunju, a former Nigerian Television Authority, NTA news anchor and later Acting Managing Director of Bank of Industry, and Mr. Collins Chike Chikeluba, a former Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN Board member, were orchestrating those malicious write-ups with the aid of the security agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,EFCC, Police, and recently, the internet, in an attempt to tarnish his image and global businesses.
“Contrary to the claim, the Transparency International does not have an office in Kaduna, Nigeria, but is represented by CISLAC with an office in Abuja”, he said noting that “Transparency International disowned Transperec IT describing it as a faceless and cloned organisation with its whereabouts in Kaduna unknown.”
While pointing out that the telephone number; 234 (0)7041410707 attached by the said Transperec IT as its contact number remained inactive, and that all attempts to contact them yielded minimal response, the Ashford Industries Nigeria Limited CEO maintained that the publication aimed to brand him and his company as chronic debtors and fraudulent entities.
According to a statement by Ashford Industries Nigeria Limited, “Mr. Okey Justin Ezeh is an industrialist, economist, and environmentalist, actively combating corruption within Nigerian banks which has crippled the economy.
“He refused to pay a 40% bribe to access low-interest funds, leading to legal proceedings. The Bank of Industry and the Heritage Bank employed EFCC services through late Barr. Margaret Onyema Orakwusi, an EFCC lawyer, after being unable to counter their lawsuit. Mr. Olagunju and Mr. Chikeluba, during their tenure in their respective positions, instructed late Hassan Osuwa, former Head, Legal, Bank of Industry and Ezikail Oseni, former Head, Risk, Bank of Industry to fabricate petitions to EFCC.
“Records show that 327 pieces of equipment purchased by Ashford Industries were seized due to bureaucratic hurdles. A loan, including N13.5 million and 535,000 USD for industrial machines, was collateralised and subsequently repaid from the 500 million Naira CBN RRF intervention funds. Despite repayment, assets remain seized fifteen years after.
“Efforts to resolve the matter with the former MD of Enterprise Bank were obstructed. Ashford Industries, a reputable 30-year-old company, maintains its integrity and transparency. The new Managing Director of Bank of Industry, Dr. Olasupo Olusi is working towards a resolution.
“The EFCC case was removed due to procedural abuse and is now a civil matter at the Court of Appeals, Lagos Division. EFCC doesn’t handle civil matters between customers and banks. The unemployment position of Nigeria is worsened by activities such as these.
“We urge the general public to disregard publications from this cloned and faceless entity, Transperec IT and the wicked activities of Waheed Olagunju and Collins Chike Chikeluba.”
Photo: 327 Ashford Industries machines seized by the Bank of Industry Nigeria since 2009 to date.
Send your press invite, news, press releases/articles to augustinenwadinamuo@yahoo.com. Also, follow us on Twitter @PrimetimeRepor1 and on Facebook on facebook.com/primetimereporters or call the editor on 07030661526.
