Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has denied owing expatriate staff of his company, Gotel Communications Limited.
Reports had suggested that the company was owing some expatriate staff salaries.
However, Atiku in a statement dated January 16 by his media aide, Paul Ibe, denied the allegations.
“It has come to our notice that some persons purporting to be expatriate staff of Gotel Communications Limited, founded by Atiku Abubakar have caused to be published media reports suggesting that they are owed salaries. Nothing can be further from the truth,” he said.
The former number two citizen said that the company in 2013 hired John Chiahemen to lead the planning, design, build-out and rollout of TV Gotel Africa to be based in Abuja.
He continued: “To this end, Chiamehen was given a free hand by the founder and board of the company to run the affairs of Gotel. Requisite resources, as requested by Chiamehen were made available. On his own part, Chiamehen had committed to a revenue profile of N150 million, among others.
“But by 2016, there were concerns that the Chiamehen management was only long in promises and short in performance, prompting the then board to empanel an adhoc visitation committee to examine the state of the company. The findings of that committee were damning.
“Consequently, the committee recommended the need for a comprehensive audit of the company. The audit revealed serious fiduciary infractions by the Chiamehen led management.
“Further to the audit report, a board meeting was convened to consider the auditor’s report. However, before that meeting, Mr. John Chiamehen bolted and has refused to make himself available to account for the huge resources put in his charge.”
Atiku advised those alleging non-payment of salaries to contact Chiamehen as funds were released to that effect.
“On the 14th of December 2016, a formal petition on alleged breach of trust, fraud and misappropriation of funds against the former managing director/CEO was filed at the FCIID (Interpol) for investigation,” he said.
Atiku also called on Chiamehen to “make himself available to give account of all monies put in his charge during his tenure as MD/CEO of Gotel.”
