Alhaji Mohammed Indimi

Alhaji Muhammadu Indimi, chairman,  Oriental Energy Resources has denied media reports that he recently donated US$14 million to Lynn University in the United States where some of his children earned their degrees.

The Borno State born oil magnate has been fiercely criticized, especially on social media in recent times for the humongous donation to the foreign university.

Critics pointed out that there is no evidence of such donation by Indimi to his home state of Borno, North east Nigeria which has been ravaged by Boko Haram insurgency in the past six years.

In the same vein, critics also said the businessman has not done much in terms of social responsibility projects in the Niger Delta area where he has been making billions of naira through his oil company. But in a statement issued by his company, the businessman said the amount he donated to the American University was $900,000.

“Contrary to reports circulating, neither Oriental, nor our Chairman, donated US$14 million to Lynn University. This figure is unsubstantiated, inaccurate and misleading. The figure jointly donated by Oriental and former partner, Afren Plc,  to Lynn University, a University from which Dr. Indimi and nine of his children have received nine Bachelors, five Masters, and one Doctorate degree, is $900,000.”

He also said contrary to reports, Oriental Energy had over the years invested in the communities where it has operations and beyond, especially in the area of education and indigenous technical skills.

The company listed beneficiaries of such projects on which it claimed to have spent billions to include Universities of Uyo, Port Harcourt, Calabar and Nsukka, among others.

It added that it has also made donations towards support for Internally Displaced People in the North East of Nigeria, and victims of terrorism.