TheCable

Ikechukwu Obiorah, representative of Anambra south in the 7th senate, has debunked reports linking him with the Malabu oil scandal.

In a statement he personally signed on Tuesday, Obiorah said he “never had any contact whatsoever with Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan since his election as president (and neither has) he met nor spoken nor had any contact with Chief Dan Etete in my life”.

Describing himself as a successful businessman, Obiorah said he has varied interests in property, insurance, and law.

“I sold Plots 279 and 280 Central Business District, Abuja in the open market to one Alhaji A.A. Aliyu (AA OIL). The plots are directly adjacent to the popular CEDDI plaza in Abuja,” he said.

“These plots were acquired by me years before I was elected to the senate and were sold after I exited the senate. I never met Alhaji A.A. Aliyu before this transaction nor have I had any further contact with him whatsoever after that sale transaction.

“The estate agent that introduced Alhaji A.A. Aliyu to the sale transaction was Mr. Emma Oto-Osagie whom I duly paid his agency commission with the first Bank Certified Cheque No. 02681281 dated 14th November 2011.”

Threatening to seek legal action, Obiorah advised his detractors to “divert their energies elsewhere”.

Many top government officials were linked to the deal, but they all denied the allegations.