The minister of state for labour and employment, Festus Keyamo has said he legally got his property in Nigeria and overseas.
This came as a reaction to an allegation that he got a United States house valued at over €276052.50 shortly after he resumed office as minister in 2019.
Keyamo wrote on Twitter: “By letters dated March 6, 2019 (long before I was appointed a Minister and immediately I was appointed a board member of the NDIC), and in line with our constitution, I wrote to the relevant government agencies, informing them of the closure of my foreign account(s) and the repatriation of my funds to the country.”
Keyamo explained that the funds were money he saved “as a private legal practitioner and a property investor over decades.”
He said he did not want the money to remain in his bank account ”lying idly” as a public servant.
“The numbers of those accounts, both abroad and in Nigeria were clearly stated in those letters. Those foreign funds were lying in my accounts until my appointment as a Minister later in 2019 and formed part of my assets declaration.
“In 2021, I again wrote to the relevant agencies (by letters dated January 22, 2021), informing them of the movement of those funds out of the country to purchase a property as a better investment decision.
“I have the acknowledged copies of those letters and those chats and replies are still on my phone, showing the dates of those chats.”
He described as laughable the thought that he could not afford to buy ”a relatively modest property” after working hard for more than 30 years.
“Those who are very close to me over the years know exactly what I am talking about. My flourishing and manned law Chambers (whilst I am away on national assignment) and my real estate investments are still far more financially profitable than serving my country,” he said.
“Ours is a labour of love to my country. My assets declaration is there for all to see. Some of us don’t need government funds or patronage to get by. Whatever we do and whoever we support is out of our deep convictions.”
