- As 4 NWC members return controversial funds
BY EDMOND ODOK – Smarting in the ragging battle of wits involving their Presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, and Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, four members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s National Working Committee (NWC) have returned about N122.4 million deposited by the leadership of Nigeria’s main opposition party in their respective accounts.
In a funny twist of events, the NWC members said they were returning the various sums of money following claims that it was ‘bribe’ money paid into their bank accounts as incentives to prevent them from moving against the National Chairman of the party, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.
With reports dotting the media space that Dr Ayu allegedly doled out the funds from the over N10 billion the Party realised from nomination fees paid by aspirants, the four officers separately wrote letters to the National Chairman dated 29th September 2022 returning the now contentious money with claims that the motive has remained quite blurry.
Those whose letters were cited as having refunded the money are the National Deputy Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja; National Vice Chairman (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih; National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Honourable Olasoji Adagunodo, and PDP National Woman Leader, Professor Stella Effah-Attoe.
Ambassador Arapaja, in returning the sum of N36 million paid to his account said; “I observed a malicious story reported in The Nation Newspaper of 26th September 2022 where it was alleged that members of the National Working Committee were offered a humongous amount of money to silence us over an allegation of financial misappropriation to the tune of N15 billion.
“This led me to browse through my various alerts and I discovered a transfer of N36 million 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 N36 million attached herewith.”
On his part, the National Vice Chairman (South-South), Orbih, who had N28 million credited to his bank account, said; “Dear Dr. lyorchia Ayu, 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, it has been confirmed to me by my bank that the sum of N28,800,000. 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.”
“Kindly confirm receipt of Zenith Bank Manager’s cheques of: N10,000,000, N10,000,000, N8,800,000, Total N28,800,000 to the party’s account. A/C: 1000095003, Globus Bank PLC”, Orbih further said in his letter
In his submission, the National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Honourable Olasoji Adagunodo, whose account was also credited with N28.8 million, wrote thus; “The above subject matter refers. Please be informed that the said payment has become a subject of media story and carried with bad intention by them.
“I hereby inform you of the refund of the Sum of N28,800.000:00 back to the Peoples Democratic Party, Account Number: 1000095003 at Globus Bank PL.C. The receipt of the payment back to the account is attached.”
Similarly, the PDP National Woman Leader, Professor Effah-Attoe told Ayu in her letter; “If you may recall, the sum of N28,800,000.00 was paid into my UBA Account Number 2053101024 on the 14th of September, 2022. When I enquired from your office, I was told that the said sum is for two years house rent for me as a member of the National Working Committee.
“Since the lodgment of the money into my Bank Account, I have been inundated with many phone calls from party members, friends, family members, and the general public, insinuating that the said money has been given as a bribe to bring me and other NWC members on the side of the National Chairman, following the crisis between him on one side and the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike/Wike’s Group on the other side.
“In addition, some National Newspapers/Social Media Platforms have also carried stories accusing the NWC members of being placated with a bribe of N28,800,000.00. This development has made me very uncomfortable.
“Having found myself in such an embarrassing situation, I am hereby refunding to the bank account of our great party at the PDP National Secretariat; Globus Bank, Account number: 1000095003, the sum of N28,800,000.00 only, earlier paid into my bank account.”
However, expressing her desire to receive whatever funds are due to the office of PDP National Woman Leader in the future, Prof Effah-Attoe said; “At an appropriate time, when things normalize, whatever is due to me as my house rent could be paid to me. Thank you for your cooperation as we continue to work together in uplifting our great party.”
