Some members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have returned about N122.4 million alleged bribes to the party.
In separate correspondences to the PDP, the NWC members said the monies had been paid into their accounts at various times without their knowledge.
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The money was said to be part of the over N10 billion realised by the party from nomination fees paid by aspirants.
The NWC members who returned the monies are the National Vice Chairman (South-West) Olasoji Adagunodo, the Deputy National Chairman (South) Taofeek Arapaja; National Vice Chairman (South), Chief Dan Orbih and National Women Leader, Prof. Stella Affah-Attoe.
While Adagunodo, Orbih and Effah-Attoe got N28.8 million each, Arapaja was paid N36 million.
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In a letter to the PDP leadership notifying PDP Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu of returning the money, Arapaja wrote, “I observed a malicious story reported in The Nation Newspaper of 26th September 2022; where it was alleged that members of the National Working Committee were offered humongous amount of money to silent us over an allegation of financial misappropriation to the tune of Fifteen Billion Nara (N15,000,000,000.00).
“This led me to browse through my various alerts, and I discovered a transfer of Thirty-Six Million Naira (N36,000,000.00) from the Party.
“I have my reservation about this money transferred into my account and for personal reasons wish to return it accordingly.”
In a swift reaction to the development, PDP’s National Publicity Secretary, Hon. Debo Ologunagba in a statement (on Twitter) said the money paid to the NWC members were “Housing Allowances duly approved and paid to NWC members and staff of the Party.”
He said the NWC members were free to return the largesse if they so wish but insisted it was not a bribe as interpreted in some quarters.