Former chief executive of GOTEL Communications, John Chiahemen, has denied allegations that he fled with the salaries of workers, including the expatriate staff of the company.
The Adamawa-based media company is owned by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
In a statement on January 16 by Paul Ibe, Atiku’s media aide, the former number two citizen accused Mr Chiahemen, who was hired in 2013, of fleeing with staff salaries.
“It has come to our notice that some persons purporting to be expatriate staff of Gotel Communications Limited, founded by Atiku Abubakar have caused to be published media reports suggesting that they are owed salaries. Nothing can be further from the truth,” Atiku said.
He added that by 2016, there were concerns that Chiahemen could not live up to expectations.
“Consequently, the committee recommended the need for a comprehensive audit of the company. The audit revealed serious fiduciary infractions by the Chiamehen led management.
“Further to the audit report, a board meeting was convened to consider the auditor’s report. However, before that meeting, Mr. John Chiamehen bolted and has refused to make himself available to account for the huge resources put in his charge,” he said.
Atiku advised those alleging non-payment of salaries to contact Chiamehen as funds were released to that effect.
In a statement on Tuesday, Chiahemen said he was considering legal actions as the allegations have “caused serious damage to my profession, reputation, character and solid reputation as a renowned and veteran international journalist with a track record spanning more than 40 years.”
He added: “The allegation that funds meant for the payment of salaries of both local and expatriates staff of GOTEL were made available to me is not only false, but also malicious.
“For the record, I was not the Group Financial Director or Group Financial Controller of GOTEL. To be clear, funds dedicated to the payment of salaries of staff were not in my custody.
“The Group Financial Controller was the paymaster in all matters of funds relating to the GOTEL Africa Project. Payroll and operational funds were provided on a month-by-month basis, when they were, by the Financial Controller and my management merely disbursed them.”
Chiahemen said payment of salaries had become difficult since mid-2015 before his removal, with the Group Financial Controller blaming it on the downturn in Nigeria’s economy.
He said the situation prompted GOTEL management not to renew the contracts of the international staff, while others opted to take a salary cut that would allow them to leave by the end of 2015.
Chiahemen said he had no knowledge of an audit report indicting his former management or any invitation to answer questions in connection with the purported audit.
