The management of NASCO Group Nigeria has refuted report linking its firm and late founder, Ahmed Idris Nasreddin to terrorism financing in the country.
The firm described the report as defamatory and slanderous content aimed at damaging the reputation of their age-long brands.
Reports had emerged on Sunday, claiming that Nasreddin a citizen of Eritrea, a country in the horn of Africa region of Eastern Africa, used proceeds of his business to help fund Izala Movement, an influential Islamic body, alleging that the movement birthed Boko Haram, one of the world’s deadliest terrorist organisation.
Reacting in a press release issued on Tuesday, the firm denied the allegations, saying neither the firm nor its founder has ever had any dealings with terrorism.
In the press release, NASCO Group noted that the United Nations Security Council and the US Government had exonerated Nasreddin from all allegations bordering on terrorism.
The statement partly reads, “We state categorically that we have never and will never be sponsor any criminal act, organisation, or violence of any kind that will disrupt the peace and tranquillity of the Nigerian state or any country in the world.
“After the unfortunate events of 2001, thousands of people and entities around the world were subjected to investigations.
“A detailed examination by the United Nations Security Council and the US Government totally exonerated NASCO’s late founder. Dr. Ahmed Nasreddin, and his business interests of all allegations.
“It was clearly established that NASCO was never at any time associated with the sponsorship of terrorism — directly or indirectly — anywhere in the world.
“Contrary to the false allegations, at no time were the assets of NASCO Group Nigeria and/or any of its associated trade, commercial and business interests ever seized nor their accounts frozen due to any of those investigations. NASCO can also categorically affirm that it has never been associated with nor had business dealings with any of the persons mentioned in the false report.
“NASCO Group is one of the leading companies in Nigeria, with an acknowledged legacy of working towards the economic growth and development of the nation, while positively impacting the lives of millions of people. Since 1963, the company had been committed to best practices in the manufacturing of quality products of international standards.”
