Former Nigerian ambassador, Lilian Onoh, has delivered a bombshell testimony on Tuesday, alleging that Geoffrey Onyeama lacked the mental stability to serve as Minister of Foreign Affairs during the tenure of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Onyeama, who is embroiled in a libel suit filed against Onoh, faced scathing accusations as Onoh testified via zoom from the United States, as learned by MUK TV from a Premium Times report.
Onoh claimed to have warned President Buhari about Onyeama’s alleged “hereditary insanity” and the detrimental effects of psychotropic medication, which she argued impaired his judgment and negatively impacted Nigeria’s international relations.
She further alleged that the State Security Service (SSS) likely flagged Onyeama’s suitability for the role but was overruled by late Mallam Abba Kyari, former Chief of Staff to President Buhari.
Amidst allegations of corruption, Onoh detailed numerous instances of malfeasance during Onyeama’s tenure, including the misappropriation of funds by Nigerian diplomats in Jamaica following the 2010 earthquake.
During Tuesday’s hearing, she criticized the former minister for being oblivious to the fact that the misappropriation of $2.8 million by Nigerian diplomats in Jamaica, following the 2010 earthquake, was not solely a bilateral issue with Jamaica but also involved the Red Cross.
Contrary to Mr. Onyeama’s previous testimony, Onoh clarified that he did not initiate the investigation into the Red Cross fraud.
Instead, she accused him of obstructing probes into the alleged theft by Nigerian diplomats of donations from the Red Cross intended for survivors of both the Jamaican and Haitian earthquakes.
It would be recalled that Ms. Onoh sounded the alarm over the misappropriation of $2.8 million out of the $5 million donations made by the Red Cross to victims of the deadly 2010 Haiti earthquake, alleging that Nigerian diplomats in Jamaica were involved in the embezzlement.
The Nigerian mission in Jamaica was entrusted with utilizing the $5 million donations to aid those affected by the earthquake in the Caribbean country.
Despite investigations launched into the matter, Onyeama purportedly quashed probes upon assuming office as minister.
The courtroom drama escalated as Onoh vehemently requested the judge’s recusal, citing bias in favor of Onyeama.
Tensions reached a peak as accusations flew between legal representatives, culminating in a contentious adjournment until Thursday for cross-examination.
