Big trouble looms in Labour Party (LP) as two of the party’s top shots are presently at dagger’s drawn over fraud allegations.
An obviously irate spokesman of the party, Abayomi Arabambi, has accused a leading official of obtaining money from candidates of the party under false pretence.
An e-news site, Naija News, which disclosed these, quoted a petition dated 8 December, 2022 in which the petitioner, Arabambi, claimed that the said candidates and aspirants are ready to testify against the particular official and tender alleged proof of documentary evidence.
The petition, addressed to the party’s Deputy National Chairman, Dr Lamidi Apapa, was written by Ogun State-based law firm, Kaiser Oghenetejiri and Co and signed by Kaiser Oghenetejiri Esq.
It was copied variously to LP presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi; the National Secretary; the Legal Adviser; National Working Committee; and National Executive Committee.
The petition, cited by APC NewsOnline, claimed in part that: ‘’One of the candidates, Hon. George Gabriel Chikadiobi, whose name was submitted to INEC as the party’s candidate for Lagos West Senatorial District, informed our client that on the 22nd day of August, 2022 paid the sum of N2.5million to Labour Party account number 1021575052 domiciled with UBA for nominations into Senate Lagos West through Sunday Ajayi.’’
The petitioner further claimed that rather than the money being statutorily deposited into the party’s account, the particular top official instructed that the said sum of money be paid into the latter’s (top official’s) personal transport business account in contravention of the party’s Constitution.
The petition also cited other candidates allegedly in the same shoes as Chikadiobi who, it claimed, were ready to testify against the official.
Accusing the said top official of abuse of power, flagrant fraud and corrupt enrichment, the petition claimed that at various times, over N27 million was paid to the particular official through other members of the party including one Comrade Joseph Ndirang and others, who, it stated, will form a witness team against the official, when investigation kicks off.
Warning that the accusations against the official were capable of causing an implosion of the party, the petitioner called for investigation into the issues raised.
