NDC Aspirant Heads To EFCC, Accuses Party Screening Panel Of Illegally Receiving N20m
A senatorial aspirant under the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) has petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), accusing members of the party’s Senatorial Screening Committee of allegedly receiving the sum of N20,000,000 through misrepresentation, undue influence and coercive pressure.
The aspirant, whose identity is being withheld due to the ongoing investigation, reportedly submitted a formal petition to the Chairman of the EFCC at the Commission's headquarters in Abuja, alleging fraudulent inducement and obtaining money under false pretences.
It was learnt that the petition is complaining of the procurement of the sum of N20m through misrepresentation, undue influence and coercive pressure by Members of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) senatorial screening committee.
A source, privy to the development, disclosed that the controversy arose after the aspirant had already fulfilled the party's official requirements for participation in its nomination process.
"Following the release of the party guidelines for congresses and nomination processes, our client purchased the party's Expression of Interest Form at the cost of N3,000,000 (Three Million Naira) and completed all requirements stipulated therein," the source said.
The source stated that despite complying with the official guidelines, the aspirant was subsequently pressured by members of the screening committee to make an additional payment of N20million under circumstances he described as fraudulent and coercive.
It was further disclosed that the aspirant's legal team formally written to the EFCC, urging the anti-graft agency to investigate what it described as a scheme involving fraudulent inducement, obtaining money by false pretence, conspiracy, undue influence and misrepresentation.
“The matter revolves around fraudulent inducement, obtaining money by false pretence, undue influence, conspiracy, coercive pressure and misrepresentation allegedly perpetrated against our client during the senatorial screening process,”the source said.
According to the petition, the aspirant believes he was induced to part with the money based on representations made by members of the screening committee, which he now considers misleading and deceptive.
This fresh development comes after a chieftain of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Kenneth Okonkwo, released what he described as evidence to support his allegation of bribery involving the presidential candidate of the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Peter Obi.
Okonkwo, a former actor-turned-politician, had on Monday alleged that Obi and other NDC leaders in the South-East collected N10 million and N20 million from House of Representatives and senatorial aspirants, respectively.
The allegation has since led to a lawsuit filed by Obi’s legal team.
