Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC) have arrested the immediate past acting chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), Mr. Uche Secondus.
Secondus, who is the deputy national chairman of the party, had been in charge of the party since its national chairman, Adamu Muazu resigned in May, last year, was picked by yesterday(Tuesday) by operatives of the anti graft agency, and has remained in custody since then.
nationalTRAIL, learnt that his arrest may not be unconnected with the ongoing probe of Dasuki’s $2.1billion arms deal, which many top serving and retired military officers, and several top PDP stalwarts, including its national publicity secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh are currently facing charges.
A source close to the EFCC, also told nationalTRAIL that Secondus is among several top PDP officials who had benefitted from the former national security adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki’s $2.1 billion that was meant for the purchase of arms for the country’s armed forces fighting against the Boko Haram insurgence in the north-east, but was diverted, and shared among top government functionaries who held sway during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Further investigations revealed that the arrest may also have to do with diversion and conversion of vehicles that were released to the party’s national headquarters from the presidency for the 2015 presidential elections.
“ You see, the presidency had released some expensive vehicles to the party’s headquarters, but those vehicles developed wings, and never got to the secretariat, and some people pocketed proceeds from the vehicles, so this may also be part of why he is arrested” the source alleged .
nationalTRAIL was equally informed that as at the time Secondus took over as acting chairman of the party, it had a very fat account balance of about N27 billion, but the account was depleted in no distance time to only about N6 billion.
It is also alleged that as at Monday this week, when Secondus handed over to the new chairman of the party, Sen. Ali Modu Sheriff, the party was so broke that its account couldn’t boast of a hundred million naira in it.
“ What is now left in the account of PDP is not up to a hundred million from billions, just months, less than a year, without a major project undertaken by the leadership of the party, so where has the money gone to?” the ource asked.
A source close to the EFCC confirmed to nationalTRAIL of the arrest, but could not confirm the time when the PDP leader was picked by officials of the commission yesterday, however, insisted that he was still been interrogated at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, as at 7Pm, today (Thursday).
When contacted, EFCC spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed the arrest, but was not forth coming with details of the arrest, but simply said that investigation was still ongoing.
Secondus, is the second PDP national working committee member, after Metuh, to be picked by the EFFC since the renewed fight against corruption began some
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