Funds Traced To Our Members Facing Corruption Offences Not Received On Party’s Behalf – PDP

The national leadership of the PDP has said it is not against the prosecution of those who looted funds meant for the purchase of arms to prosecute the war against Boko Haram.

The party added that rather, those responsible for the looting of the funds should be properly punished to serve as a deterrent to others.

Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Alhaji Ibrahim Jalo, stated this in an interview in Abuja.

Jalo said it was wrong to assume that the party was supporting corruption, adding that no member of the party, currently being prosecuted for alleged corruption, had claimed to have received any money on behalf of the party.

Jalo said the arraignment of members of the party for corruption-related offences had not affected the integrity of the party.

He said, “Those being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and whose accounts huge sum of money were found had not claimed that they received the money or the contract on behalf of the party.

“All of them that received contracts did so with their personal companies.

“It will therefore be wrong to assume that the wrongs of few members of the party were enough to tarnish the image of the party that had united Nigerians. PDP remains a clean party.

“But we would insist that those who looted funds meant for the procurement of arms meant to fight Boko Haram should be punished.

“We, however, urged the Federal Government to follow the rule of law and allow the courts to determine the guilt or otherwise of all accused persons.”

Some members of the party are currently being prosecuted for allegedly benefiting from the money meant to procure arms for the fight against insurgency in the North-East.

Among those currently facing different charges before different courts in Abuja are the Acting Chairman of the BoT of the party, Alhaji Haliru Bello; a former National Security Adviser to the President, Col. Sambo Dasuki (retd.); a former governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa; a former Minister of State for Finance, Amb. Bashir Yuguda; and the founder of Daar Communications Plc, Dr. Raymond Dokpesi.

The National Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Olisa Metuh, is currently being detained by the EFCC over alleged corruption.

But Jalo insisted that while the accused persons remained innocent until proven otherwise by the court, he pleaded that the PDP should not be dragged into their different cases.

He said the party was proud of the achievements of former Goodluck Jonathan, who he said, worked hard to see an end to insurgency in the North-East.

Jalo said, “Former President Jonathan gave out money to fight insurgency, but if there were people who ate the money and didn’t use it for the purpose, they should be tried.

“No one had given money to the party. No money had been traced to the party’s account. Money meant for the party would not be given to individuals.”