Former Nigerian deputy governor drops cryptic post on Ken Ofori-Atta’s behavior when in power

Former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Prof Kingsley Moghalu, has shared a reflective message on how power can change people, a commentary that has attracted attention amid the ongoing situation involving Ghana’s former Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, who is currently in detention in the United States.

In a LinkedIn post published on January 10, 2026, Prof Moghalu narrated a personal experience involving an unnamed African friend who attended his 50th birthday celebration in Abuja and was later appointed a minister in his country.

He explained that after the appointment, his attempts to contact the friend on a professional issue were unsuccessful, as calls were not answered and messages went unanswered.

According to Prof Moghalu, other mutual friends also complained that the individual’s behaviour had changed after assuming public office.

“An African friend attended my 50th birthday in Abuja from his country. A little while later he was appointed a minister in his country. Meanwhile I had completed my tenure as Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and taken up a professorial appointment in a US university. I tried to reach him by phone on a professional matter but he did not pick my call.

“He did not respond to messages I sent. I was disappointed, but I also heard similar complaints from other mutual friends and acquaintances. Few could “recognize” our friend’s character and conduct anymore.

“A few years later his party lost the elections in his country and he was out of government. He came under investigation on allegations of corruption. His country reportedly sought to extradite him from a foreign country where he had apparently taken refuge.

“Recent reports are that his has now been arrested in that country on immigration charges. Charges or indictments, of course, do not automatically mean guilt unless and until established by the courts. But, lesson: vanity of vanities, all is vanity,” his post read.

Meanwhile, the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC, has confirmed that Ken Ofori-Atta is in the custody of the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In a press release dated Friday, January 10, 2026, and signed by Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States, Victor Emmanuel Smith, the Embassy said it received information about the detention and took steps to verify the situation.

After confirmation, the Embassy contacted the detention facility to request access to Ofori-Atta to offer consular support in line with diplomatic and international protocols.

However, officials at the facility informed the Embassy that Ofori-Atta declined to meet consular officers at that time and indicated he would only engage with them in the presence of his lawyers.

The Embassy said it remains in contact with the relevant United States authorities and will continue to monitor the matter to ensure that Ofori-Atta’s rights are respected…CONTINUE MORE READING>>>