Following the invitation of National officers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PPP), by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alledged embezzlement of Party’s N10 billion, the PDP Youth Frontier has asked the anti-graft to wash off its hands.
The group in a statement in Abuja, Wednesday which was sent to CAPITAL POST averred that complaint of this nature remains an exclusive responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), saying the group was not supporting corruption, but insisting that proper channels of allowing electoral umpire to do its work would be better.
The statement which was signed by the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Usman Austin Okai was by the virtue of EFCC’s invitation suspicious of the ruling party (APC) using the anti-graft agency as a Canon fodder to witchunt the opposition PDP.
The invitation of some key officers of PDP by EFCC which was at the instance of a petition submitted to it by a PDP chieftain, Kassim Afegbua was faulted by the group, saying the allegation was a party internal affairs, hence, it would amount to ‘ultra vires’ for the anti-graft agency to constitute itself into an unsolicited internal auditor of the Peoples Democratic Party.
Part of the statement noted:
“In a letter dated May 17, 2021 and addressed to the National Chairman of the PDP – Prince Uche Secondus: the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had invited our National Auditor, National Organizing Secretary and Director of Finance to report to the EFCC headquarters between May 19 and May 21.
“This invitation was sent based on an allegation levelled against Prince Uche Secondus by Kassim Afegbua – also a chieftain of the party, concerning transactions related to party affairs.
“He had accused the chairman of secretly working to undermine the party and shortchanging it ahead of 2023 elections.
“This, as far as we are concerned, is the Party’s internal affair. The jurisdiction of the EFCC does not extend to investgating internal party wrangling. The EFCC is therefore acting outside its powers by inviting the above named persons.
One of the point raised by the EFCC is that, they want to verify the proceeds from the sale of forms. It is unheard of and laughable that the EFCC seeks to turn itself into the de facto auditor of the PDP.
It is obvious that the EFCC has lost its focus. It is chasing political parties whose funds have nothing to do with government funds, while there are people who have outstanding cases in court concerning embezzlement of government funds from the ruling party.”
The group further in the statement reminded EFCC of an NGO petition against one of their own and Minister of Transportation, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi which they were yet to take action.
“The Integrity Group, a Port Harcourt based nonprofit organisation, had written a petition to the EFCC and President Muhammadu Buhari that, Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers state and present minister of transportation had stolen £500million as governor.
“The EFCC denied ever receiving the petition that was written in 2018. Instead, he was made minister- a clear case of what is good for APC is not good for PDP.
“On August 3, 2020, the EFCC received a petition from the True Freedom and Good Governance group to probe the current minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio and the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC), Kemebradikumo Pondei of diverting N81.5 billion.
“Akpabio is still the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and Pondei of the ‘Off Your Mic Gate’ is still walking as a free man after that epic fainting – a clear indication that the so called President Buhari war on corruption is selective.
“Like the erstwhile chairman of APC, who coincidentally is from Edo state declared: once you are in APC, your sins are forgiven, regardless of how grave there are. No man does wrong in APC, he suggested.
“We are waiting for the reports of many cases of corruption on the table of the EFCC which have either been swept under the carpet or forgotten.
“These are the affairs that should concern the EFCC for now. It is not to chase the largest party in West Africa around.
“Go after the real culprits and recover looted funds, especially now that the country is in dire need of financial injection to the economy ruined by APC, under the stewardship of president Buhari.”
