….Commission writes Secondus to release concerned officials for questioning
Economic and Financial Crime Commission has invited three top officials of the People’s Democratic Party for questioning over alleged criminal conspiracy, abuse of office, diversion of funds and fraud.
The EFCC invitation is coming barely a month after a party chieftain, Kazeem Afegbua, petitioned the commission and demanding a probe of the Secondus-led National Working Committee over alleged financial misappropriation running to about N10billion.
EFCC, in the letter of invitation dated May 17, 2021, and addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, said it had become imperative for the anti-graft agency to obtain certain clarification from the party and its officials.
But EFCC also requested the party’s national chairman to release the National Auditor, Adamu Mustapha and National Organising Secretary, Austin Akobundu and Director of Finance to report at the EFCC headquarters from May 19th to 21st 2021.
The anti-graft agency further advised the invited PDP national officers to honour the invitation with relevant documents relating to sale of forms into the party’s elective positions from January 2017 to date.
The anti-graft agency’s invitation to the PDP top officials was contained in a letter addressed to Seconds and dated May 17.
The letter was signed by the Head of Operations, EFCC headquarters, Abuja, Michael Welkas.
Welkas said the officials are being summoned as it has “become imperative to obtain certain clarification from your party”.
Afegbua had in his petition alleged that much of the financial transactions of the PDP under Prince Uche Secondus had been shrouded in mystery.
He also accused the PDP leadership of deliberate attempt to shortchange the party in the build up to the 2023 general elections.
Secondus had since denied the allegation and filed a N1 billion suit against the petitioner, Kazeem Afegbua.
The EFCC letter read, “The Commission is investigating an alleged case of Criminal Conspiracy, Abuse of Office, Diversion of Funds and Fraud in which the need to obtain certain clarification from your party has become imperative.
“In view of the above, you are requested to kindly release the under-listed officers of your party to attend an interview with the undersigned on the below-scheduled dates at the Economic Governance Section 2, EFCC Headquarters, 2nd Flood, Plot 301 & 302 Institution and Research District, Jabi, Abuja by 1000 hours.
“The officers should come along with relevant documents relating to the sale of forms into the Party’s elective position from January 2017 to date.”
