Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, director-general of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), says she did not facilitate a loan for Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), led by Simon Ekpa.
In a now-deleted post on X, Ekpa, a disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, detained leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), said Okonjo-Iweala facilitated a $57.5 billion from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF).
He claimed the fund was to “form our government after December 2nd 2024 declaration of Biafra”.
“I thank our sister, Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala for helping me to facilitate the loan,” Ekpa said.
However, sharing a screenshot of Ekpa’s tweet, Okonjo-Iweala clarified in a post on her X page that his statement was false.
She warned all those seeking to misuse her name to “desist”.
“I know no sensible person will believe what is contained in the outrageous tweet below but in these troubled times it is important to underscore that the statement is false,” she said.
I know no sensible person will believe what is contained in the outrageous tweet below but in these troubled times it is important to underscore that the statement is false. Again I enjoin all those seeking to misuse my name to desist! pic.twitter.com/rVE4U0b1tq
— Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (@NOIweala) October 24, 2024
In reply to Okonjo-Iweala’s post, Ekpa said the former post did not originate from him, adding that it was photoshopped and the handiwork of “nonentities”.
“I congratulate you for always defending yourself and your integrity, even when they are photoshopped,” he said.
“It shows you are really a mother. Thank you for defending yourself but i never tweeted such thing, it is false and fake.”
Dear Madam @NOIweala, i never tweeted such, it is even surprising that you can tweet this because your name was mentioned, we have been tweeting about the Nigeria terrorism against your people and you never responded nor showed any remorse. Here you are, defending what…
— Simon Ekpa (@simon_ekpa) October 24, 2024
Ekpa is known to have made similar untrue claims in the past.
In December 2023, TheCable profiled Ekpa as an infamous disseminator of fake news.
In the same month, a claim by Ekpa that Nigeria loses over $1 billion weekly owing to the sit-at-home order in the south-east was found to be misleading.
