N10bn Fraud: EFCC Invites Expelled PDP Chieftain, Digs Deeper Into Party’s Spending
- EFCC has beamed a searchlight on the allegation of fraud leveled against some chieftains of the PDP
- Kassim Afegbua, a member of the party in Edo state, had written a petition letter to the EFCC over the alleged misappropriation of funds
- The anti-graft agency invited Afegbua on Tuesday, May 25, to make some clarifications on the allegation
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A report by The Punch indicates that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has begun investigations on at least 10 expenditure items in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s financial records.
Legit.ng gathered that the probe was followed by a petition filed by a now-expelled member of the PDP, Kassim Afegbua.
Source: Facebook
Afegbua had alleged that the party leadership is yet to account for N10bn funds realised from the sale of nomination forms before the 2019 general election.
The newspaper noted that a document obtained in Abuja on Tuesday, May 25, revealed that the items included a total of N243.8m as legal and other professional charges to consultants in 12 transactions and a total of N78.9m for transport and travel expenses.
It added that out of the N243.8m paid as legal fees, N78m was paid out on November 1, 2018, while N36.3m was paid out on November 14, 2018.
According to the report, under transport and travel expenses, where a total of N78.9m was paid out, N12.9m was said to have been used to charter an aircraft on October 4, 2018.
The anti-graft agency is, however, seeking clarification on the payment of N264,417,808 under the sub-head loan repayment.
Quoting a source privy to the investigations, the newspaper said that the concern of the EFCC is the case of money laundering, adding that some of the payments were not made through financial institutions.
The source reportedly said:
“What is of interest to the commission is the case of money laundering. Some of these payments were either not made through financial institutions or routed through personal accounts of individuals.”
The suspended chieftain of the PDP and petitioner, Afegbua has been invited by the EFCC to shed light on his petition.
He was asked to provide supporting documents and evidence if any to buttress his allegations.
Afegbua, who was a former Edo state commissioner for information, was said to have confirmed the development on Tuesday, May 25, saying that he was invited to write a statement and share information.
He stated:
“All I want is for my party to be accountable. We cannot hold the ruling party to account if we do not keep our house in order. The banking regulations say all transactions above N10m must pass through a financial institution; this was not the case with my party, the PDP, under the present leadership."
Afegbua described his suspension by the party hierarchy in the state as an effort in futility, noting that it did not follow due process as stipulated in the PDP constitution.
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Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the EFCC commenced investigations into the petition written by Kazeem Afegbua against the leadership of the party over alleged N10bn fraud.
It was reported that the EFCC asked the national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, to release three party officials for interrogation.
Afegbua alleged in the petition that money generated from the sale of forms and other sources totalling N10bn was unaccounted for.
Source: Legit.ng
