By John Kayode
Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has debunked bribery allegation against its National Chairman,Dr. Iyorchia Ayu over alleged transferred of sums of monies into the account of party’s National Working Committee members and staff of the party.
According to statement made available to newsmen by the National Publicity Secretary of the party,Debo Ologunagba.
“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 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 bribe or indicate that it was illegitimate or unlawfully paid.
“A bribe is defined as “money or any other valuable consideration given or promised with a view to corrupting the behavior 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 clearly 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).”
It was earlier reported that six of 19 members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) have rejected various sums of money allegedly paid into the accounts by the national chairman.
The monies range from N36million to N28.8million depending on the position of the intended recipients.
gathered that while the deputy national chairmen and the national secretary secretly got N36m wired into their accounts, other members of the committee got N28.850m respectively.
It was further gathered that the payment, now regarded as bribe money, came on the heels of news of a N14 billion scandal rocking the party published few days ago by a national daily.
The money to the NWC members was transfered from the party’s account with Globus bank Ltd.
Those who had returned the alleged Ayu’s money at press time, include:
1. Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja : Deputy National Chairman South.
2. Prof. Stella Effah-Attoe. National Woman Leader.
3.. Chief Dan Osi Orbih.
National Vice Chairman South-South.
4. Dr. Alli Odefa.
National vice Chairman South-West.
5. Hon Olasoji Adagunobi-Oluwatukesi
National vice chairman South-West.
6.Hon Setonji Koshoedo
Deputy National Secretary.
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