The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly begun investigation into allegations of N10billion financial fraud levelled against the Peoples Democratic Party’s National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus.
It would be recalled the anti-graft agency received a petition filed against Secondus by a former Spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Kassim Afegbua.
The New Diplomat had reported that Afegbua, who is also a former Commissioner for Information in Edo State, in the petition alleged that the Secondus-led National Working Committee (NWC) mismanaged N10bn party’s funds generated from 2017, particularly from the sales of nomination forms during the 2019 general election.
Afegbua had also alleged that the bank account of one MORUFU NIGERIA LIMITED was used by the Secondus-led NWC to mismanaged the funds which accrued from the sales of forms in 2019.
According to reports, all is now set for the EFCC to begin investigation into the allegations following a letter by the anti-graft agency inviting the PDP’s National Auditor, Adamu Mustapha; the National Organising Secretary, Austin Akobundu; and the director of finance for questioning.
According to the letter, the PDP chieftains will be questioned by the the anti-graft’s Head of Operations at the EFCC National headquarters, Jabi, Abuja, from Wednesday to Friday.
The anti-graft agency was quoted to have said that the national auditor should come on Wednesday, the national organising secretary on Thursday and the director of finance, on Friday.
However, further investigation suggested that the petition filed by Afegbua was triggered by a leaked memo written by the Auditor, quering the finances of the party.
Mustapha in the leaked memo alleged that he is oblivious of the financial transactions of the party.
According to the leaked memo sighted by an online medium, Mustapha stated that he hasn’t been aware of the party’s financials since 2017.
This was said to have informed the decision by Afegbua to file a petition against the National Chairman of the party.
PDP National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan and other party leaders have since denied the allegations, describing it as untrue and unfounded.
Secondus in his response, recently gave a 48-hour ultimatum to Afegbua to retract the defamatory statements and tender a public apology to him or face a N1billion lawsuit.
