September 30, (THEWILL) – The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has dismissed bribery allegations against it by some members as mischievous.
THEWILL reports that some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the PDP, had on Thursday, raised alarm over “suspicious” money paid into their accounts.
The members including the party’s Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, refunded N36m to the party’s account; National Vice Chairman South-South, Chief Dan Orbih (N28m) and National Woman Leader, Prof. Stella Effah-Attoe (N28m)
Others include National Vice Chairman South-East, Dr Alli Odefa (N28m); National Vice Chairman South-West, Olasoji Adagunobi-Oluwatukesi (N28m) and Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo (N28m).
The deputy national chairman, Arapaja; the National Vice Chairman for South-south, Orbih; the National treasurer, and the woman leader, Atoi, had accused the party leadership of attempting to bribe them and consequently returned the money.
Arapaja, writing to Ayu, said, “I observed a malicious story reported in the Nations Newspaper of 26” September, 2022, where it was alleged that members of the National Working Committee were offered humongous amount of money to silence us over an allegation of financial misappropriation to the tune of Fifteen Billion Naira (N15,000,000,000.00).
“This led me to browse through my various alerts, and I discovered a transfer of Thirty-Six Million Naira (N36,000,000.00) from the Party. I have my reservation about this money transferred into my account and for personal reasons, wish to return it accordingly. Kindly confirm the receipt of UBA Electronic Transfer of the Thirty-Six Million Naira (N36,000,000.00) attached herewith.”
Orbih wrote that “My attention has been drawn to a damaging trending story reported in THE NATION Newspaper by Yusuf Alli, on September 26, 2022, titled: ‘Disquiet in PDP NWC over N10 billion nomination fees.’
“Amongst several other allegations, he alleged that members of the NWC were offered N28 million to gloss over scandalous financial misappropriation. To my shock and surprise, & has been confirmed to me by my bank that the sum of N28,800,000. (Twenty eight million eight hundred thousand Naira) has been credited to my account by the party. I hereby notify you of my decision to pay back the money to the party’s account.”
But the PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, said dismissed any form of bribe.
Ologunagba said the said money was aHousing Allowance duly approved and paid to NWC members and staff of the party.
The statement read: “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has been drawn to misrepresenting reports in a section of the media, alluding strange and unfounded motives to the Housing Allowance duly approved and paid to NWC members and staff of the party.
“The NWC has noted that this misleading report stemmed from an unfounded publication by a particular media outlet, which suggested that the Housing Allowance, an entitlement duly approved and paid to national officials and staff of the Party amounted to bribery.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP states in an unequivocal term that no funds were paid into the account of any member of the NWC as bribe for any purpose whatsoever for that matter.
“To set the record straight, the Housing Allowance being referred to went through the Due Process of the Party in line with the Conditions of Service and Entitlement of the Staff and Principal Officers of the Party.
“If any individual, for any reason decides to return money duly approved and paid, such does not in any way suggest that the money was paid as bribe or indicate that it was illegitimate or unlawfully paid.
“A bribe is defined as ‘money or any other valuable consideration given or promised with a view to corrupting the behavior of a person especially in that person’s performance as a public official…’ This is not the case in the payment of Housing Allowance duly approved for officials and staff of the Party.
“The PDP, therefore, urges all members, teeming supporters and the general public, to disregard the report and misleading insinuation which are clearly designed to malign the PDP, cause disaffection and distract our Party from our mission to Rescue, Rebuild and Redirect our nation from the misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
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