..says it’s not a case of fraud
The management of First Rotech Group of Companies Limited has strongly refuted allegations of fraud circulating on social media against its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Chief Augustine Chukwudi Oguejiofor, describing the claims as false, malicious and part of a coordinated campaign to damage his reputation.
In an official statement issued on behalf of the company, Chief Oguejiofor addressed the controversy generated by allegations made by Ifeanyi Michael Udezu and amplified online by social media personality Martins Vincent Otse, popularly known as VeryDarkMan.
The company said the narrative being circulated online misrepresents what is essentially a civil business disagreement arising from a failed land transaction in Abuja and not a case of fraud.
According to the statement, the dispute began when Mr Udezu entered into a land purchase agreement with a company within the First Rotech Group. Under the agreement, he was to acquire a property in Abuja after earlier expressing interest in another parcel of land offered by the company.
The company explained that although the price and terms were agreed, Mr Udezu allegedly failed to meet the agreed payment schedule and defaulted on the contractual terms.
Following several delays and missed deadlines, both parties reportedly agreed to terminate the transaction and proceed with a refund of the funds already paid.
The management emphasised that the agreement to refund the money was reached mutually after it became clear that the transaction could no longer be completed under the original terms.
The company further noted that Mr Udezu had previously filed a petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, but later withdrew it after acknowledging that the matter was essentially a civil contractual dispute.
According to the statement, the withdrawal of the petition reinforced the position that no criminal wrongdoing had occurred.
Despite this development, the company expressed surprise that the same matter was later taken to social media platforms where, it said, misleading narratives were presented to the public.
Chief Oguejiofor said the company had already agreed to refund the money paid by Mr Udezu in line with the earlier understanding between both parties.
He stressed that the organisation remains committed to honouring the agreement and resolving the matter amicably, while insisting that the allegations of fraud being circulated online are baseless.
“The actions of Mr Udezu in resorting to public accusations despite the agreed resolution amount to a deliberate attempt to blackmail and defame our Chief Executive Officer and the organisation,” the statement said.
The management also condemned what it described as a growing trend of “trial by social media”, warning that unverified allegations and viral accusations could inflict serious reputational damage on individuals and businesses.
It criticised the role of online influencers in amplifying claims without verifying facts or seeking the perspective of the other party involved.
According to the statement, such conduct undermines fairness and responsible public discourse.
The company has therefore demanded that Mr Udezu immediately retract the allegations he made publicly and issue an apology.
It also called on VeryDarkMan to remove all videos and posts related to the matter from his social media platforms and desist from further dissemination of what it described as defamatory content.
The management warned that failure to comply with these demands would compel the company to pursue legal action to protect the reputation and interests of its Chairman.
Chief Oguejiofor, who has built a reputation in business and real estate development over the years, said the company would not allow misinformation and online attacks to undermine its credibility.
While reaffirming its willingness to resolve the issue through lawful and civil means, the company urged the public to disregard the viral allegations and await the proper resolution of the matter through established legal processes.
“We remain committed to transparency, integrity and the rule of law,” the statement concluded, “and we will take all necessary steps to defend the reputation of our Chairman and the values upon which our organisation stands.”
