Chief Executive Officer,CEO, Lee Engineering & Construction Company Limited, Chief Leemon Ikpea, has denied reports alleging that he is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, over some business transaction with embattled former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Alison-Madueke.
The business mogul, in a statement issued on Tuesday, refuted the claims in strong terms, saying that he has always been transparent in his business dealings.
On Monday, a Federal High Court in Abuja, issued an arrest warrant against Diezani Alison-Madueke after stalling several court proceedings. The former minister is being tried over allegations of money laundering and misappropriation.
Some media houses on Monday had reported that Ikpea, alongside several other individuals, are on the radar of the EFCC over allegations of conspiring with Alison-Madueke to pull through fraudulent business operations.
However, Ikpea in his reaction, described the reports as false and an attempt to soil his hard-earned reputation in the business industry.
According to him, he has never been involved in any fraudulent business operations with the former Minister or any other person.
The statement reads, “As a businessman, I am known for integrity and transparency in my dealings. As such, I have never been found wanting or linked to any fraudulent business operations any where in the world.
“I detest in the strongest terms, this spurious and unfounded allegation directed against my reputation which I have built over the years. I see the publication as the work of a hatchet man, who was sponsored to tarnish my image.
“If any person is in doubt, such a person can seek clarification from the EFCC management on this issue.
“I need to add that through hard work and sacrifices, my company has been adding value to the Nigerian economy by creating jobs for millions of Nigerians directly and indirectly since 1991, as well as meeting our tax liabilities to the government.
“This rebuttal has become necessary to allay the concern of our stakeholders, host communities, business associates and the many thousands of persons directly or indirectly deriving their livelihood from our businesses as well as the public at large.
“I wish to add that I reserve the right to seek legal remedy for the damage done to my name by the this publication.”
