PDP NWC Members Allegedly Returned N122.4 Million Bribe To Party

About N122.4 million has been returned to the Peoples Democratic Party by at least four members of the National Working Committee.

The NWC members claimed in separate letters to the PDP that they were unaware of the payments made into their accounts.

The sum was reportedly a portion of the more than N10 billion the party received from nomination fees paid by candidates.

The National Vice Chairman (South-West), Olasoji Adagunodo, the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja, the National Vice Chairman (South), Chief Dan Orbih, and the National Women Leader, Prof. Stella Affah-Attoe, are the NWC members that returned the funds.

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Arapaja received N36 million, compared to N28.8 million each for Adagunodo, Orbih, and Effah-Attoe.

Orbih stated that he received the credit alert with “shock and amazement” in a letter to the PDP leadership informing them of the return of the funds to PDP Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu.

“My attention has been drawn to a damaging trending story reported in THE NATION Newspaper by Yusuf Alli on September 26, 2022 titled ‘Disquiet in PDP NW over N10 billion nomination fees.’ Amongst several other allegations, he alleged that members of the NWC were offered N28 million to gloss over scandalous financial misappropriation,” Orbih’s letter read.

“To my shock and surprise, it has been confirmed to me by my bank that the sum of N28, 800,000. (Twenty eight million eight hundred thousand Naira) has been credited to my account by the party. I hereby notify you of my decision to pay back the money to the party’s account.”

Adagunodo in his letter to Ayu wrote, “Please be informed that the said payment has become a subject of media story and carried with bad intention by them.

“I hereby inform you of the refund of the Sum of Twenty Eight Million Eight Hundred Thousand Naira (#28,800,000:00) back to the Peoples Democratic Party, Account Number: 1000095003 at Globus Bank PLC. The receipt of the payment back to the account is attached.”

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In her letter, Effah-Attoe alleged that the PDP National Treasurer’s office informed her that the N28,800,000 paid to her account was for two years’ worth of housing rent for NWC members.

“When I contacted your office to inquire, I was informed that the stated sum is for two
(2) years House Rent for me, as a member of the National Working Committee,” the letter stated.

“Since after the lodgment of the money into my Bank Account, I have been inundated with many phone calls from Party members, friends, family members and the general public, insinuating that the said money has been given as a Bribe to bring me and other NWC members on the side of The National Chairman, following the crisis between him on one side and the Governor of Rivers State, H.E Governor Nyesom Wike/ Wike’s Group on the other side.

“In addition, some National Newspapers/Social Media Platforms have also carried stories accusing the NC members of being placated with Bribe of N28,800,000.00.

“This development has made me very uncomfortable. Having found myself in such an embarrassing situation, I am hereby refunding to the Bank Account of our Great Party at the PDP National Secretariat.”

Arapaja responded, “I observed a malicious story reported in the Nations Newspaper of September 26, 2022, where it was claimed that members of the National Working Committee were offered a sizable sum of money to silence us over a claim of financial misappropriation to the tune of Fifteen Billion Nara (N15,000,000,000.00).

“This prompted me to check my different alerts, where I found a transfer of 36,000,000 Naira (N36,000,000.00) from the Party.

I’m hesitant about the money being placed into my account, and I want to return it for personal reasons.