Bugged by the $225million loan scam obtained from First Bank of Nigeria Plc using General Hydrocarbon Limited, GHL, ThisDay/AriseTV owner, Nduka Obaigbena, has proceeded on a self exile to the United Kingdom, in what appears to be an attempt to evade a possible prosecution.
This is barely 24hrs after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed a 13-count criminal charge against the Chairman, Honeywell Group, Chief Oba Otudeko and a former Managing Director of First Bank, Olabisi Onasanya for allegedly obtaining the sum of N12.3bn from First Bank plc.
This is not the first time Obaigbena would go exile. During the late General Sani Abacha’s regime, Obaigbena went on exile for several years. He returned after the death of the late military dictator.
During the former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime, Obaigbena again went on exile to South Africa. He returned during the Late President Musa Yar’Adua’s Government.
In 2015, after former President Goodluck Jonathan was defeated by former President Mohammadu Buhari, Obaigbena went on exile after document showed that his company, GHL, collected N670million from former NSA, Sambo Dasuki for “energy consulting.” The N670million was from funds meant to buy weapons to fight Boko Haram. He returned after negotiating a soft landing deal with the Buhari’s administration.
Also, shortly after President Bola Tinubu’s elections as President, Obaigbena proceeded on another self exile to the UK for fear of persecution after he spearheaded the botched Presidential ambition of former Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele.
Sources say the Thisday Publisher won’t be returning to Nigeria anytime soon as he intends to stay in the UK.