The Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Paul Orhii, has denied being involved in a N700 million scam and having an illicit relationship with his former Special Assistant, Mrs Aishat Okpa-Iwenofu as reported by an online publication.
Orhii told newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos that he knew nothing about the N700 million said to have been found in her bank account.
The Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Prof. Paul Orhii, has denied being involved in a N700 million scam and having an illicit relationship with his former Special Assistant, Mrs Aishat Okpa-Iwenofu as reported by an online publication.
Orhii told newsmen on Tuesday in Lagos that he knew nothing about the N700 million said to have been found in her bank account.
He said that the allegation which was reported to have been petitioned to the Economic Financial Crime Commission, (EFCC) was an outright falsehood.
The online publication; Global Village Extra published the report recently.
Quoting a petition to EFCC, the publication stated that the NAFDAC DG, was linked to N700 million in a Lagos account of his former special assistant, Okpa-Iwenofu.
The site alleged that the unnamed petitioner had concrete proof of deals between Okpa-Iwenofu and fake drug dealers, alleging further that she was a mistress to the D-G.
But the NAFDAC boss said that he was never invited by the EFCC on the 'so-called' petition submitted to the anti-graft agency.
He said that the publication of the allegation through an online news site, an unrecognised newspaper was a campaign by aggrieved counterfeiting agents to bring him and the agency down.
According to him, “there is no iota of doubt that my detractors, some of who are drug counterfeiters would go to any length this time around to paint me black.“They are envious, badly hit and uncomfortable with our well-coordinated, multifaceted and successful anti-counterfeiting strategies,’’ he said.
Orhii said that the failed attempt to assassinate him in 2010 made his detractors hell bent on assassinating his character with falsehood.
“How could I sack someone who has got my N700 million without first of all, collecting my money? This is absolutely not logical,’’ he said.
Orhii, however, reaffirmed his commitment to serve the nation and that he would continue to fight against drug counterfeiting to safe guard the health of Nigerians.
“I can never disappoint millions of Nigerians and friends abroad who have invested so much trust, confidence and hope in me.
“My commitment to fighting counterfeit drugs in the country and my commitment to serving the nation will remain unshaken,’’ he said.
Also rising in stout defence of the DG, chairman, NAFDAC Governing Board; Prof. John Ibu, noted that all allegations aimed at the Agency DG were part of the plot to derail him from the good works he was doing.
“ If there is substance in the allegation, we would have investigated and dealt with it our own way.“The D-G has enviable achievements, which is recognised both locally and internationally and we are in support his fight against fake drugs to safeguard the health of Nigerians,’’ he said.
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