Fred Chukwuelobe, media aide to former Anambra State Governor Chris Ngige, has dismissed reports that the ex-minister was kidnapped, confirming instead that he is currently in the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Panic spread late Monday after unverified reports claimed Ngige had been abducted by unknown assailants. Chukwuelobe said he had been inundated with calls from friends and journalists seeking clarification.
“I have been receiving calls in the past hour from friends and journalists seeking the veracity of the news making the rounds that His Excellency, Dr. Chris Ngige, former governor of Anambra State and immediate past minister of labour and employment, ‘has been kidnapped,’” he wrote on Facebook.
“Ngige is with the EFCC. He was not ‘abducted’ or ‘kidnapped’.”
He added that further details would be provided in due course.
Efforts to reach Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages to him were not answered.
Ngige has recently faced security concerns. On November 27, his convoy was attacked along the Nkpor–Nnobi road in Idemili North LGA of Anambra State, when gunmen disguised in police and army uniforms opened fire on his escorts. A woman recording the incident was killed, while a police officer and several civilians were injured. Ngige was not in the convoy at the time.
Boluwatife Enome
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