It is confession galore as the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) intensifies investigation into the
$2.1billion arms deals under the Jonathan Administration.
Accord Party (AP) admitted yesterday
that its chieftain and former Governor of Oyo State,Alhaji
Rashidi Ladoja, got N100million from the former Chairman of the Board of
Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih, ahead of
last year’s general election.
The confession came on the heels of those of Afenifere
frontliner, Chief Olu Falae, and Second Republic Presidential Adviser, Alhaji
Tanko Yakasai, who also said that they received N100million and N53million
respectively from Chief Anenih, in connection with the elections.
Accord Party,in a one-page letter by its National
Secretary, Hon. Nureni Adisa, to the Chairman of the Economic and Financial
Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, said the N100m was to assist the party
prepare for the election.
In the letter entitled: “Release of N100million by
Chief Tony Anenih” and dated 8th January, 2016, Adisa said: “Our
attention has been drawn to a newspaper report that the sum of N100million was
released to the Accord leader, Senator Rashidi Ladoja by Chief Tony Anenih, the
(former) Chairman BoT of the PDP.
“We confirm that the sum of N100million was given to the
party through our leader after series of meetings between the leadership of
Accord and Chief Tony Anenih in preparation for the 2015 general elections.
“The following issues were discussed at the meetings:
- The need
to support the Presidential candidate of the PDP since Accord had no
Presidential candidate.
- The need
to ensure that peace was maintained to enhance peaceful movement during
periods of campaign, elections and after the elections.
- The need
for the PDP to support Accord campaign effort.
“Accordingly, the PDP (former) BoT Chairman, Chief Tony
Anenih released the sum of N100million for these purposes through our leader,
Senator Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja.
“The money released was accordingly used for the purposes as
stated above.”
Chief Falae, Secretary to the Government of the Federation
in the Babangida Administration, had earlier admitted that the Social
Democratic Party (SDP) of which is National Chairman also got N100m from
Chief Anenih for the purpose of campaigning for ex-President Goodluck Jonathan
in the build-up to the election.
His words: “In the build up to the presidential
election, the PDP approached the SDP which I chaired.The then ruling party
solicited for our support in order for President Goodluck Jonathan
to win the March 28 presidential election.
“Anenih related with me as the chairman of the PDP BoT and I
did same as the SDP National Chairman. He wrote to me as PDP BoT chairman
and I wrote back as SDP National Chairman stating conditions/terms for the
alliance. I have the records.
It is true that N100million was given to my party to endorse
and work for the Jonathan’s candidature in the 2015 election. We used the money
for that purpose and we effectively campaigned for the PDP since we did not
have presidential candidate in the election.The money was not for
me.”
Falae claimed he had no reason to suspect that they
money was from the arms deal.
“No reference was made to the arms deal. So they
should not bring me into the arms issue. The relationship was purely interparty
affairs,” Falae said.
For his part, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai said that the
N53million he collected from Anenih was shared by him and seven other prominent
northerners for advocacy visit to northern traditional rulers to mobilise
their subjects for last election.
He named the other beneficiaries as one-time Minister
of State for Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mamman Anka, Barrister Bitrus Gwada,
Alhaji Suleiman Lawal, Dr Bahago, Chief John Macklink from Plateau and
Senator Sodangi.
Yakassai said Anenih had requested him to name nine
“apolitical but respected individuals from the north” who could help in mobilizing the electorate for the election.
He said the money covered the allowances,
transportation and hotel accommodation for the nine during the tour which
he claimed took them to 18 states in the north.
Places visited, according to him, included Sokoto, Kano,
Zaria, Gwandu, Anka, Ilorin, Minna, Zuru, Birnin Kebbi, Dutse, Hadejia and
Daura.
The EFCC had traced about N260 million from the Office of
National Security Adviser(ONSA) to the account of Anenih who explained in a
letter to the anti graft agency that the money was a part refund of the money
which former President Goodluck Jonathan instructed him to release to some
political groups for mobilization and post-election peace advocacy.
The former PDP BoT Chairman, who explained that he was not a
direct beneficiary of the money, said in his letter to the EFCC that N100
million was given to the leader of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu
Falae, N100 million to the leader of ACCORD, Senator Rashidi Ladoja and N63
million to a group headed by elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai.
He said the N260 million could not defray the total money,
estimated at over N440 million that he eventually doled out from his pocket to
other groups and individuals on the instructions of the former President.
Both Yakassai and Falae had already confirmed that they
received N63 million and N100 million respectively from Anenih for the purposes
specified.
Source: The Nation
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