By ABUJA, FCT – The aviation and technology sectors were thrown into a fresh controversy this week as Ambassador Emmanuel Shoon Patrick, the Founder and CEO of Excel Optoelectronics Company Limited (Excel-LED), issued a blistering rebuttal to allegations of financial misconduct. In a formal “Right of Reply,” the tech CEO dismissed reports that his firm swindled the Federal Government, describing them as a malicious campaign orchestrated to settle a private business score.
The rebuttal follows a series of high-profile investigative reports published by Daily Times Nigeria and syndicated across platforms like Sahara Reporters and West Africa Express on December 16, 2025, and February 5, 2026. These reports alleged that the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) had referred Excel-LED to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for prosecution over an airport contract scam.
However, in a detailed statement released to the press in Abuja, Amb. Patrick termed the publications “inaccurate, misleading, and injurious,” alleging they were weaponized by Mr. Fidelis Anosike, the publisher of Daily Times, following a failed commercial transaction between their private companies.
- To provide context to the dispute, the original reports by Daily Times painted a damning picture of operations at the nation’s airports. The publications claimed that:
* Excel-LED, described as a “Chinese-led” firm, and its Nigerian associate, Amb. Emmanuel Patrick, were under investigation for diverting multi-million naira funds meant for LED installations at Port Harcourt International Airport.
* Payments designated for corporate accounts were allegedly routed to personal bank accounts to evade tax.
* The FCCPC had purportedly concluded an investigation and, via a letter dated January 21, 2026, referred the matter to the Nigeria Police Force for criminal prosecution.
* The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was reportedly considering forensic audits to recover diverted public funds.
These reports framed the narrative as part of a broader crackdown on foreign contractors exploiting Nigeria’s public infrastructure sector.
The Rebuttal: “No Government Funds Were Missing”
In his lengthy rejoinder, Amb. Patrick categorically denied that his company was involved in any swindle of Federal Government funds. He argued that the entire narrative of a “government contract fraud” was a fabrication designed to criminalize a purely civil business dispute.
“The article… presents allegations that are neither supported by verifiable facts nor reflective of the true position,” Patrick stated. “Regrettably, no effort was made to seek my response prior to publication, thereby denying your readers the benefit of balance and fairness.”
He clarified that Excel-LED is a fully Nigerian-owned entity with international technical partners, debunking the claim that it is a “Chinese-led” front used to siphon capital.
Amb. Patrick’s defense hinges on a specific commercial engagement that occurred on December 1, 2025. According to the CEO, the dispute is not with the Federal Government, but with Folio Media Group Ltd., owned by Mr. Fidelis Anosike.
The Right of Reply details the following specific figures and timeline:1. The Request: Mr. Anosike allegedly contacted Excel-LED requesting the supply and installation of LED screens on credit for a personal site at Port Harcourt Airport.2. The N500 Million Claim: To justify the credit request, Anosike allegedly claimed he was awaiting a payment of ₦500,000,000 from telecommunications giant MTN Nigeria, which would be used to settle the debt.3. The Invoice: Excel-LED declined the full credit request but agreed to release a single LED unit. A formal invoice was raised on December 1, 2025, for a total value of ₦28,332,372 (Twenty-Eight Million, Three Hundred and Thirty-Two Thousand, Three Hundred and Seventy-Two Naira), inclusive of VAT.4. The Deposit: A deposit of ₦10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira) was paid by Anise’s representatives to secure the unit.
Amb. Patrick alleges that when he demanded the outstanding balance of over ₦18 million, the relationship deteriorated.
“When the CEO drew attention to the outstanding balance, Mr. Fidelis Anosike responded with hostility, falsely labeling the CEO a ‘criminal,’ and threatened to leverage his position as Publisher of Daily Times to publicize the dispute,” the statement alleges.
Allegations of Editorial Blackmail
The strongest accusation in the rebuttal is that the journalistic machinery of Daily Times was deployed to intimidate a creditor. Amb. Patrick described the sequence of events as a “misuse of journalistic privilege” and a violation of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Code of Ethics.
“The content did not arise from independent investigative journalism in the public interest, but appears instead to have been triggered by a private commercial disagreement,” Patrick wrote. “Where a media outlet or its controlling interests deploy editorial power to advance a personal or commercial grievance, such conduct constitutes a conflict of interest.”
He further noted that the selective naming of himself and his company, while shielding the identity of the “accuser” (Anosike), was evidence of editorial bias.However, Excel Optoelectronics has not taken the allegations lying down. The company revealed that its lawyers have already engaged Folio Media Group and are preparing to escalate the matter.
The statement lists four specific demands:
1. Equal Prominence: The publication of the rejoinder with the same visibility as the original damaging reports.
2. Retraction: A full withdrawal of the allegations of criminal conduct.
3. Apology: A public apology to the company and its CEO.
4. Content Removal: The deletion of the offending posts from online platforms.
Amb. Patrick warned that if these conditions are not met, the company will petition the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), the NUJ, and institute civil proceedings for defamation and malicious falsehood.
As of press time, the original reports remain accessible online. It remains to be seen whether the Daily Times or the FCCPC will issue a formal counter-statement regarding the existence of the alleged January 21 referral letter.
attempts to reach Mr. Fidelis Anosike and the management of Daily Times for comments on the allegations of blackmail and the specific figures cited were ongoing at the time of filing this report.
