United States President Donald Trump don tok say FBI dey investigate the relationship between Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang and one woman wey United States intelligence officials believe na Chinese spy. Trump yarn reporters say e speak with Huang on Monday after reports say Washington believe China target the Nvidia boss for espionage campaign.
Trump say e ask Huang whether e know say the woman na spy, and Huang tell am say e no know. Trump add say e believe Huang. The president later tell reporters for White House say FBI dey look into the matter, but e no give details about the investigation or when dem start am. FBI no comment when BBC contact dem.
Beijing don reject the claim say Huang dey targeted. Chinese foreign ministry call the allegations groundless, speculative and aimed at smearing and maligning China.
Nvidia, wey commission independent investigation into the matter involving Alice Huang, say e no get reason to believe say company secrets or national security compromise. United States intelligence officials believe Alice Huang, wey some people also call Huang Le, na spy for Beijing, according to New York Times report. She no be relation to Jensen Huang.
According to the newspaper, Secretary of State Marco Rubio send memo to top officials in Washington in spring this year, warning say the Nvidia boss dey close relationship with a Chinese spy. Alice Huang na managing director of Megaspeed, one company for Singapore wey don get dealings with Nvidia.
The revelations hit Nvidia value, as about $250bn, or £190bn, wipe off on Monday when share price fall more than 4%. Nvidia na world second most valuable company after Apple, and e dey design computer chips wey become central to AI technology. Washington dey treat Nvidia exports to Beijing as national security matter, one key reason wey make the Nvidia boss relationship spark concern.
Megaspeed office for Singapore central business district look like e dey operational and staffed on Tuesday. BBC no get entry to the floor, but one staff member for phone say dem no get comment and direct all queries to company PR team. BBC email Megaspeed several times for comment.
Also on Monday, Jensen Huang and Nvidia face proposed class action lawsuit for California wey accuse dem of defrauding shareholders by concealing his ties with the suspected Chinese spy.
