The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has accused the chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Uche Secondus, of allegedly receiving N250m from the office of the National Security Adviser under the leadership of the embattled former, NSA, Sambo Dasuki.
According to Punch, Secondus was said to have allegedly received the money during the build-up to the 2015 general elections, when served as the deputy chairman (south) of the PDP at the time.
The EFCC, in a report, alleged that the funds were approved by Col Sambo Dasuki (retd.) for unknown reasons but were merely referred to as special duties.
“Uche Secondus received N200m in cash from the ONSA with voucher 0244. His Special Adviser, one Chukwurah, signed for the money on his behalf on February 2, 2015. Earlier, he had collected N50m which was personally received by him on November 7, 2014,” the report partly claimed.
The EFCC also said an oil magnate standing trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja, Babajide Omokore gave out vehicles worth about N1.1bn to Secondus and ex-chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, as well as the lawmaker representing Akwa Ibom north-east senatorial district, Senator Bassey Akpan.
The anti-graft agency stated that the vehicles which ranged from Mercedes Benz luxury cars to campaign buses and trucks were bought with the proceeds of fraud. It said: “Adamu Mu’azu received vehicles worth N504, 500, 000 including a Benz G63 worth N45m between May and August 2014.
“Secondus received vehicles worth N310m. On June 28, 2013, he received a Benz G63 worth N36m; on April 8, 2014, he received two Toyota Hilux vehicles worth N14m.
On July 8, 2014, he received 10 Hiace buses worth N90m while on November 13, 2014, he received 15 Hiace mid-roof buses worth N120m. He also received a N50m Range Rover Biography SUV.”
“Senator Bassey Akpan received a BMW X5 BP worth N50m; an Infinity QX56BP worth N45m; a Range Rover worth N40m; three Toyota Hiace buses worth N27m; two Toyota Hiace High-roof buses worth N16m, six Toyota Hilux D cabin vehicles worth N42m as well as other vehicles worth N83m.
“He received the vehicles from Omokore while heading a committee which was giving contracts to the same Omokore.
“He has been invited on several occasions but he has refused to show up. He was supposed to come to the EFCC office on Monday but he refused to come.”
Meanwhile, Secondus, through his media aide, Ike Abonyi, has dismissed the report from the EFCC as a plot to blackmail him.
According to Abonyi, “Secondus is already in court on this matter and that is all. It is a continuation of media trial and blackmail.
“He has said he did not collect any money and he had challenged anyone with contrary proof to meet him in court and testify against him.
“There’s no need to be talking about a case pending in court in the newspapers. If the government has anything to say, they should file it before the court as demanded,” he said.
