Akinfenwa, 5 others embezzled N6m - AD; It is a lie, says Akinfenwa

Clement Idoko, Abuja - 25.01.2008

THE Alliance for Democracy (AD) on Monday explained why its National Chairman, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, and five other officials, were suspended from the party. It accused Akinfenwa and the former National Secretary, Dr. Manzo Abubakar, and the National Publicity Secretary, Rafiu Salau, of defrauding the party of over N6 million.

But Senator Akinfenwa, in his reaction, said this was a lie, declaring that the party did not have the sum of N6 million in its account. Also suspended were Mahmud Sani, Deputy National Treasurer, Tijani Babangida, Deputy National Secretary and Ismail Ayodele, National Ex-officio.

The party also said the affected party men would be dragged before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) or the ICPC to answer for their alleged wrong-doings. Presenting the report of the Disciplinary and Arbitration Committee on the allegations of conspiracy and financial mismanagement of the party, at National Executive Committee meeting in Abuja , the party said the officials were suspended on six count charges.

These ranged from financial impropriety and mismanagement of party funds, to conducting illegal state congresses and replacing state executive officers without the knowledge and approval of the national Executive Committee members of the party.

The committee stated that the accused failed to put up any defense or answer whatsoever to counter the charges against them despite the ample opportunity given to them to do so.

“This committee has constitutionally provided a sufficient platform for a fair hearing to the accused officers but they failed and refused to make use of it” the report said.

Akinfenwa maintained that he would be glad if he could be invited by the EFCC and ICPC, saying that he had never stole public money in his life.

According to him, “they are rascals. They are the black sheep in the party they want to blackmail me because they are no more in the party.”