By Ben Ogbemudia
The crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the removal of the National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu, took a turn yesterday for the worse as six members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party returned over N177.6m paid into their accounts in “the guise of house rents” due to them.
Those that have returned the alleged ‘bribe’ paid to them from the “proceeds of the N10bn sale of nomination forms” include the Deputy National Chairman (South), Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja, who refunded N36m to the party’s account; National Vice Chairman South-South, Chief Dan Orbih (N28.8m) and the National Woman Leader, Prof. Stella Effah-Attoe (N28.8m).
However, the details of the amount refunded by the National Vice Chairman South-East, Dr Alli Odefa, National Vice Chairman South-West, Olasoji Adagunobi-Oluwatukesi, and Deputy National Secretary, Setonji Koshoedo, could not be ascertained.
Reacting to the claims, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Debo Ologunagba, insisted that the money was not a bribe but meant to cater for their accommodation in Abuja.
Meanwhile, the fresh crisis started when questions were raised on how the bulk of the over N10bn realised by the party from nomination fees paid by aspirants have been spent.
To douse tension, it was learnt that the leadership of the party instructed that each NWC member be paid N28m, apparently to gloss over the huge cash in order not to cause any fresh crisis in the party.
According to a letter addressed to the National Chairman of the party, which was obtained by ThisNigeria yesterday titled: Return of N36m housing allowance paid into my account, Arapaja said he refunded the money because the circumstance under which the money was transferred to his account was not clear.
The signed letter by Arapaja read in full, “I observed a malicious story reported in The Nations newspaper of 26th September 2022, where it was alleged that members of the National Working Committee of the party were offered humungous amount of money to silent us over an allegation of financial misappropriation to the tune of N15bn.
“This led me to browse through my various alerts and I discovered a transfer of N36m from the party. I have my reservation about this money transferred into my account and for personal reasons I wish to return it accordingly. Kindly confirm the receipt of UBA electronic transfer of my N36m attached herewith.”
Similarly, Orbih also stated, “My attention has been drawn to a damaging trending story in the Nation newspaper of September 26, 2022, titled: Disquiet in PDP NWC over N10bn nomination fees. Among several allegations, the story alleged that members of the NWC were offered N28m to gloss over scandalous financial misappropriation.
“To my shock and surprise, it has been confirmed to me by my bank that the sum of N28m 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.”
The other four NWC members Effah-Attoe, Odefa, Adagunobi-Oluwatukesi, and Koshoedo also refunded N28m each on the claims that they were not comfortable with money in their accounts.
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*Money meant for house rents, not bribe- Party
In its reaction, the PDP National Publicity Secretary said the money was for accommodation.
Ologunagba, in a statement, said, “The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to misrepresenting reports in a section of the media alluding strange and unfounded motives to the Housing Allowance duly approved and paid to NWC members and staff of the party
“The NWC has noted that this misleading report stemmed from an unfounded publication by a particular media outlet which suggested that the Housing Allowance, an entitlement duly approved and paid to national officials and staff of the Party amounted to bribery.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP states in an unequivocal term that no funds were paid into the account of any member of the NWC as a bribe for any purpose whatsoever for that matter.
“To set the record straight, the Housing Allowance being referred to went through the Due Process of the party in line with the Conditions of Service and Entitlement of the Staff and Principal Officers of the party.
“If any individual, for any reason decides to return money duly approved and paid, such does not in any way suggest that the money was paid as a bribe or indicate that it was illegitimate or unlawfully paid.
“A bribe is defined as “money or any other valuable consideration given or promised to corrupt the behaviour of a person, especially in that person’s performance as a public official…”. This is not the case in the payment of Housing Allowance duly approved for officials and staff of the Party.
“The PDP, therefore, urges all members, teeming supporters, and the general public to disregard the report and misleading insinuation which are designed to malign the PDP, cause disaffection, and distract our Party from our mission to Rescue, Rebuild and Redirect our nation from the misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
