Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, has concluded his case against Lilian Onoh, a former Nigerian ambassador to Jamaica and Namibia, regarding allegations of defamation.
The closure of the suit followed a cross-examination on Friday before Justice Keziah Ogbonnaya of a Federal Capital Territory High Court at Zuba in Abuja on allegations of financial misappropriation at Nigerian embassies in Jamaica and Namibia.
Onyeama, who served during the Muhammadu Buhari administration, had taken legal action against Onoh after she accused him of condoning grand corruption at Nigerian foreign missions.
Onoh, who is Onyeama’s sister-in-law, allegedly sponsored newspaper articles critical of him during his tenure as foreign minister.
The allegations included claims that $2.8 million out of a $5 million donation by the Red Cross in Nigeria for victims of the 2010 Haiti earthquake was misappropriated by Nigerian diplomats in Jamaica.
Additionally, Onoh asserted that $600,000 was siphoned by officials in Namibia, including improper remittances of VAT to the Namibian government.
During the cross-examination by Onoh’s lawyer, Monday Ejeh, Onyeama stated that he took action on every complaint received, referring such issues to the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs and directing investigations to be conducted.
The conclusion of this case marks a significant development in the legal proceedings between the former minister and ambassador, shedding light on the allegations and responses related to financial mismanagement at Nigerian embassies abroad.
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