Ogun SDP disowns Falae over N100m scandal

The Ogun State chapter of the Social Democratic Party has dissociated itself from the N100m allegedly taken by its National Chairman, Chief Olu Falae, to support the Peoples Democratic Party during the March 2015 general elections.

The alleged bribe money had been linked with the controversial arms deal.

The party, in a statement on Sunday jointly signed by the state Chairman, Chief Olu Agemo, and the Secretary, Clement Adeniyi, and made available to journalists in Abeokuta, disclaimed the former Secretary to the Federal Government, saying that Falae was on his own over the issue.

Falae, who had confirmed receiving the money, however, claimed he never knew the money given to him was from the money meant for the purchase of arms to prosecute the war against the Boko Haram insurgents, under the former National Security Adviser to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Sambo Dasuki.

The scam had resulted in a probe by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, with many prominent Nigerians already caught in its dragnet.

In the strongly worded letter, the chapter declared that “it was never notified of or involved in any negotiation to partner the Peoples Democratic Party or any other party for the purpose of winning the election or maintaining peace during the period, as claimed by Falae.”

The statement read further, “The party was never informed by the national secretariat of the party of the decision to adopt former President Goodluck Jonathan or any other candidate as the party’s presidential candidate.”

Again, the Ogun chapter of the party averred that it was never informed of any donation of funds to the party by the PDP or any other party, adding that it did not receive any financial or campaign logistics in form of assistance from the national secretariat of the party or any of its principal officers.

In the two page statement, it further stated that in April 2015, it made its position clear on the sources of its campaign funding through advertised publications in The Guardian, The Vanguard, The PUNCH and Nigerian Tribune newspapers of Monday April 20, before the current revelation.

The statement added, “We plead with our members and supporters who have received these untoward revelations with great shock to remain calm and await the convocation of a general meeting where these issues shall be thoroughly discussed and appropriate decisions would be taken.”