Anambra APC aspirant denies $378,000 money laundering allegations

The All Progressives Congress governorship aspirant in the Anambra State 2025 governorship elections, Paul Chukwuma, has dismissed the allegations of $378,000 money laundering levelled against him.

An online report alleged that the Abuja Federal High Court had ordered the forfeiture of $378,000 and a Mercedes Benz Maybach belonging to Chukwuma, citing alleged involvement in money laundering.

The money and the vehicle allegedly said to be proceeds of unlawful activities, were linked to Chukwuma, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Fides Et Ratio Academy Limited.

This decision was made by Justice Emeka Nwite after the counsel for the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, Osuobeni Akponimisingha, presented a motion ex-parte.

But Chukwuma, while reacting to the online report during an interactive session with journalists at his Umueri country home in the Anambra East Local Government Area on Thursday, said the alleged money laundering claims were false.

He blamed the development on detractors, insisting that he cannot be intimidated by the tactics of his political opponents who seek to undermine and ruin his governorship ambition.

He explained that the money in question was legitimately earned by him through his company in a contract with the Federal Government.

He said, “People should be ready to contest for election, you don’t need to use any instrument of government to intimidate anybody. I cannot be intimidated by anybody. I am going to win my party’s ticket and go ahead to win the governorship election and offer dividend of democracy to Ndi Anambra.

“The facts should speak for itself. I don’t want to believe that the report is coming from ICPC. The money is in the company’s account, which was legitimately earned. All the documents related to the contract are in the custody of the ICPC.

“This is just an attempt by political opponents to intimidate me and derail my ambition to serve as the governor of Anambra. They know I am the candidate to beat, so they are resorting to all kinds of allegations as the election approaches.”

According to him, the money in question is in the company’s account, which was legitimately earned, and all the documents related to the contract are in the custody of the ICPC.

He explained that his firm was awarded a project for training, which involved Intellectual Property Rights, and that his company held meetings with TETFund to deliver the project to Nigerian students.

“This is just the work of political detractors trying to bring me down, but I will not be intimidated by them. I will win my party’s ticket and ultimately win the election. No one can stop or intimidate me because my records are clear. I pay my taxes and have nothing to hide.

“My image cannot be tarnished. We know the people behind this, and I cannot allow unpatriotic elements to stop me from contesting the forthcoming Anambra governorship election. I can never be intimidated by anybody.

“The reality on ground is that through the good work we have done, APC has become very formidable in the South-East, and I have personally taken it upon myself to ensure that APC is the party to beat,” he added.