The New Nigeria Peoples Party ( NNPP) has dragged the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, and 13 others to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC) over an alleged misappropriation of N2.5billion party fund.
The NNPP in a petition by its National Secretary, Oginni Olaposi, addressed to the EFCC chairman, a copy of which was made available to our correspondent on Monday said an estimated sum of N2.5billion made from the sales of nomination forms, membership subscription fees, and donations were not accounted for by expelled leadership of the party.
The party secretary lamented that the alleged misappropriation led to the non-payment of allowance to party agents that participated in the 2023 general elections across the country.
The petition reads, “In 2022, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso through his representatives, led by Elder Buba Galadima and other very well respected Nigerians, which include but not limited to Senator Hunkuyi Suleiman and Prof. Bem Angwe approached the leadership of the NNPP at the country home of Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam; founder of our great party.
“Present at the meeting, were the original members of our great party, including the current National Chairman of the party, Dr Major Agbo Gilbert and the expelled National Secretary of the party, Mr Dipo Olayoku”
“Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso requested through his representatives for an opportunity to contest for the office of the President of Nigeria on our political party platform.
“We obliged him at no cost with a memorandum of understanding entered into and duly signed by both parties.
“Accordingly, the National Executive Committee was dissolved and new officers elected to run the party. We did this with a very clean mind, but unknown to us, Senator Kwankwaso just wanted to use our political party to propagate the kwankwasia movement and equally use it for political gains.
“As events unfolds, we realise that Senator Rabiu Musa kwankwaso was not interested in the presidential election, but rather using the platform to enrich himself”.
The petition added, “Mr. Chairman sir, you may be surprised to know that till today, all the money from the sales of nomination forms, membership subscription fees and donations made by donors and friends of the party are yet to be accounted for.
“Recognising the fact that anyone coming to equity must come with clean hands, It is our concern that a party with the potentiality of forming a government of a new Nigeria must make sure that charity begins at home by purging ourselves of every tendency of corruption and mismanagement of funds.
On the aforementioned allegations, we hereby request that you investigate the account of New Nigeria People’s Party starting from March 2022 till date ”
