By Tosin Olatokunbo
Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, a former Minister of Petroleum Resources has denied claims that he smuggled a stolen car to the United States of America, USA. His response came on the heels of reports that he tried to smuggle a Jaguar car from Nigeria into the President Joe Biden country.
The vehicle, a 2007 Jaguar XKR, reports said was stolen from a Jaguar assembly facility in Birmingham, England for which the manufacturer sued the former minister.
The manufacturer claimed in the court documents that the vehicle was made for use in the Czech Republic as it did not meet the safety standards set out by the U.S
The former minister, however, said the claims that he stole the car were false, patently misleading and frivolous, in a statement signed by one of his aides, Prince Harrison.
Kachikwu who failed to be reappointed by President Muhammadu Buhari during his second term in office, said the car was impounded by the US Customs, not on suspicion of being a stolen car after it was shipped from Nigeria to the US.
He explained that the Jaguar is a gift to a relative, but was impounded by US authorities for emission control Infringement as cars with European and African emission control specifications cannot be used in the country.
According to him “The attention of Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu has been drawn to a false, patently misleading, and frivolous publication by an online news medium.
“The publication which alleged that the former Minister smuggled a stolen jaguar car to the US is not only absurd but manifestly untrue. For the avoidance of doubt, it is expedient to set the record straight.
“Sometime in 2009, Dr Kachikwu bought a Jaguar car from Dazz Motors Nigeria Ltd, Victoria Island, Lagos. The Managing Director then was Emmanuel Jack. The car was fully paid for.
“After using the car for some years, it was gifted to a relation in the United States of America (USA) and following due local customs processes, the car was shipped to the US. However, on arrival, the car was impounded by the US Customs on suspicion of being a stolen car and for emission control Infringement as cars with European and African emission control specifications cannot be used in the US.
“Consequently, the US Customs was furnished with details of the car and purchase receipts, and the car dealer in Nigeria was contacted. The car dealer confirmed the facts and absolved Dr Kachikwu.
“After investigation and relevant administrative processes, (there was no court case), the US customs discontinued the investigation as there was no proof that the vehicle was stolen but the emission breach would not allow the car to be used in the US.
He said the car has already been released to him.
The statement said “The car was therefore released to Dr Kachikwu. The dealer was also not prosecuted for want of sufficient evidence.
“The car was subsequently returned to the dealer in Nigeria and refunds were made to Dr Kachikwu. There is therefore nothing done wrong by Dr Kachikwu. If anything like the US customs determined, he was an innocent victim. These are the facts.”
