A Nigerian serving minister has been accused of money laundering by Senator Dino Melaye. The senator revealed that MTN allegedly used the minister in moving 13.92 billion dollars out of the country to float and incorporate offshore Special Purpose Vehicles in the Cayman Island, Mauritius and British Virgin Island.

Senator Melaye disclosed that… “The Senate was alarmed that the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, owner of CELTELCOM Investment Limited with address at No.608, St. James Denis Street, Port Lewis, Mauritius, purportedly claimed to invest in MTN on the 7th of February, 2008, got a Certificate of Capital Importation and filled the Form ‘A’ on the same date) and closed his investment in Nigeria after receiving dollar payment for repatriation to New York same day.”

“It is also aware that these offshore entities were offered shareholders loan and their repayment to the extent of repatriation of proceeds of dividends back to MTN International South Africa through the entities and operators of the SPVs brought on board as directors of MTN Communications. The Senate observes that after five years of operation in Nigeria, the management of MTN Nigeria Limited suddenly realised that they needed the Certificate of Capital Importation to enable them to commence repatriation of funds realised from their businesses.”