Alleged fraud: EFCC invites three National PDP officers for investigation

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has requested the National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus, to release three party officials for interrogation.

The anti-graft agency demanded that the National Auditor, National Organising Secretary and Director of Finance, appear before it.

They were said to have featured in a case of criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of funds and fraud that the commission is investigating.

In an invitation signed by the EFCC Head of Operations, Mr Michael Welkas, dated May 17, 2021, and addressed to Secondus, the commission said the need to obtain clarifications from the party had become imperative.

The interview will hold on May 19, 20 and 21, 2021 for the National Auditor, National Organising Secretary and Director of Finance respectively.

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Recalls that former Edo State Commissioner for Information and suspended member of the party, Prince Kassim Afegbua, had last month petitioned the EFCC and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over allegation of N10 billion financial impropriety by the party, an allegation the PDP has denied.

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Afegbua urged them to look into the financial transactions of Secondus, in the spirit of transparency, accountability and bookkeeping in line with the existing anti-corruption laws.

He added that much of the financial transactions of the PDP under Secondus had been shrouded in mystery, accusing the party leadership of a deliberate attempt to shortchange the party in the build-up to the 2023 general election.

He also asked the anti-graft agencies to probe how N10 billion that allegedly accrued to the party’s purse from 2017 till date, especially those that were as a result of sales of nomination forms for presidential, gubernatorial, House of Assembly and senatorial elections was spent, saying as an opposition party, the leadership should lead by example by ensuring that there is transparency and accountability.