By Olusegun Olanrewaju
Following the fresh crisis that erupted in the ranks of the Labour Party (LP) yesterday over allegations of N3.5 billion fraud, the National Treasurer of the party, Oluchi Opara, has demanded a refund of the fund.
This is despite a strong position taken later in the day by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, which denied the fraud charge levelled against his boss, the LP National chair, Julius Abure.
The party’s purse, Opara, had demanded accountability in the fraud allegation involving N3.5 billion in the party’s finances, but the spokesman, Obiorah Ifoh, said the factional chairman, had no dirty hand in any financial malfeasance.
Opara, speaking at a news briefing yesterday in Abuja, had stated that the finances were proceeds from the sales of forms and other fundraising activities for the 2023 general elections in the country.
The treasurer said, “With great reluctance and deep concern, I am compelled to publicly address the media regarding the egregious financial mismanagement and corruption that have plagued our beloved party under the leadership of Mr Julius Abure, the current National Chairman. She further said, “As national treasurer, I am constrained to come before you and the public today because the internal mechanisms of our party have failed woefully to bring Mr. Abure to account for his brazen abuse of office and misappropriation of party funds.
“His appetite for power has grown unchecked, and he has deliberately undermined my duties and authority as stipulated in the party’s constitution.”
But in his defence, and rebutting the stance of the LP treasurer, Ifoh, speaking on behalf of the leadership, said the allegations were malicious.
She added that Oparah was under some external influences, causing her to read out a “concocted statement drafted by detractors to tar the image of the party”.
Ifoh added, “The attention of the leadership of the party has been drawn to a news conference by our National Treasurer, Ms Oluchi Opara, where she raised a number of allegations against the National Chairman, Julius Abure, bordering more on corruption and abuse of office.
His statement read, “With the exception of the National Treasurer, whose tenure is about to end in a few weeks’ time, and who has served for eight years as National Treasurer without a single record of party accounts, no other member of the National Working Committee has raised any issue of embezzlement against our National Chairman who made a pledge on the assumption that the party has to be revamped.
“Evidence is our proactive outing in the 2023 general election as the party presented for the first time a very good presidential candidate.
“Let it be said that the Labour Party has not earned N3.5 billion as claimed, and that the National Chairman has not embezzled any money that belongs to the party as alleged.
‘’The records are there, except that Ms Oluchi Opara doesn’t even understand simple accounting, even as a treasurer. The party engages an External Auditor, and our account is under constant scrutiny by INEC or other regulatory bodies.”
According to the LP, Abure does not own several houses and property, as alleged by the National Treasurer, ‘’despite no law prohibiting him from owning properties’’.
The statement said, “The constitution of the Labour Party in Article 14:1b provides that the National Chairman shall be the Accounting Officer of the party while 14:1d “Shall approve all expenditures and shall be a signatory to the Party’s Bank account(s).”
“Accordingly, Article 14: 6 states that the National Treasurer “Shall receive and promptly pay into the Party’s account(s) all monies received for and on behalf of the Party.
“Shall ensure the preparation of Annual Statement of Account/Reports on finances of the Party including compilation of the Party’s Assets and liabilities and make same available to the National Executive Council from time to time. Shall be a co-signatory to the Party Account(s).”
“These sections are clear as to the duty of the national chairman apart from providing leadership. The duty of the National Treasurer is also clearly spelled out.”
The party, however, said it would definitely take Opara to the disciplinary committee, where appropriate measures would be taken against her.
