Former Managing Director (Retail – Downstream) at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Esther Nnamdi-Ogbue has denied ownership of the huge sums of money found by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, at a residential building in Ikoyi Lagos on Wednesday evening.

Some online media platforms, including the popular Sahara Reporters, reported that the monies – $43 million, £27,800 and N23.2 million – were traced to the ex-NNPC director.

But in a statement by her lawyer, Emeka Etiaba, SAN, on Thursday, Nnamdi-Ogbue said that she was shocked as many Nigerians at the discovery by the EFCC, saluting the anti-corruption agency for its courage in the war against corruption.

“By this Press Release, we inform the public (especially the News Media)that the said sums of money and/or the apartment where the sums of money were found do not belong to Our Client,” read the statement by Nnamdi-Ogbue’s lawyers.

“Our Client is as shocked as many other Nigerians at the uncovering and recovery of the said sums of money and wishes to salute the courage and efforts of the EFCC in the war against corruption.

“She also wishes to commend the whistle blowing policy introduced by the Federal Government in the fight against corruption which policy has resulted in large scale uncovering and recovery of monies and assets.”

The statement added that there was no need for speculations as “the source and ownership of the said uncovered sums of money is known or eventually will be known by the EFCC in due course.”

Sahara reporters in its report also claimed that the building where the money was discovered is owned by former Bauchi State Governor and former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Adamu Mu’azu.

However, the online newspaper provided no evidence to substantiate its claims.