For her leading role in a fundraiser, the Director-General of the Nigerian Stock Exchange, Professor Ndi Okereke Onyuike on Thursday was quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission which subsequently seized her international passport.

The NSE boss was quizzed for her role in the fundraiser by a group, ‘Africa for Obama’, in support of the presidential ambition of Senator Barack Obama of the Democratic Party in the United States.
The group reportedly raised about N100m during its dinner/concert in Lagos on August 11, 2008.
It was gathered that the travel document was collected from her on Thursday when she reported at the Abuja headquarters of the EFCC as requested on Wednesday. This according to a source is to prevent her from traveling without the knowledge of the commission.
The commission’s Head of Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Babafemi, confirmed that Okereke Onyuike was at the commission’s office on Thursday.
Onyuike and her group’s action had been largely condemned by Nigerians of all walks of life.
On August 14, 2008, the Security and Exchange Commission reportedly demanded explanations from Okereke Onyuike, fearing that her role in ‘Africa for Obama’ was capable of affecting the country’s image abroad.
The Director-General of SEC, Mr. Musa Al-Faki had in a letter queried Onyuike over the fundraiser.

Al-Faki said in the letter, "it has come to the notice of the commission that you are organizing a fund raiser in support of one of the two candidates in the United States. You are no doubt aware that your status as the Chief Executive Officer of the NSE is both sensitive and not partisan. You are therefore requested to clarify your role in the ' Africa for Obama Campaign".

Onyuike in her response said that the event which took place on Monday August 11 in Lagos was not to raise funds for Obama but to sensitize Africans living in America.

According to her, "The event was a concert and people bought tickets on their own volition. People have been saying I used my position as D-G to compel corporate organization to donate money. I am tired of all these. This is not true. No corporate organization gave any cheque.

"The guests came in their personal capacity whether they work in a bank or anywhere else I do not know. Even the table I bought for my friends and relations was paid for out of my own pocket and the money was used for the food and to pay for the artistes. We ate and danced and enjoyed ourselves.

"Some people, including journalists came in for free and what I said there was that if there is any surplus after the accounts have been done, the money will be used for mobilization".
She also explained that her group organised the dinner to create awareness that, for the first time in history, an African American is on the brink of becoming the President of the United States.

She explained that there are over 5 million Africans living in the US with the right to vote and advised them to rally support for Obama at the presidential election slated for November this year.

However, the Obama Campaign Group had denied any linkages with Onyuike group.

The campaign organization of Obama while rejecting the money raised the group stated that, "Obama for America and the Democratic National Committee will not accept any fund raised at this event or through the fundraising activities of this group.

"We want to make it clear that the event and this organization are in no way associated with Obama for America of the Democratic National Committee should this organization seek to place additional advertisement in paper".