Fresh crisis has hit the Labour Party (LP) as its National Treasurer, Mrs. Oluchi Oparah, has demanded that the National Chairman, Barrister Julius Abure, account for over N3.5bn being proceeds of sale of forms and sundry fundraisers for the 2023 general elections.
Oparah made the demand at a press conference in Abuja, on Monday.
She also said that Peter Obi, the party’s national leader and presidential candidate for the 2023 election, was aware of the development, having attended some meetings where this was discussed, without cogent resolution.
She lamented that as the treasurer, Abure prevented her from exercising her constitutionally assigned role of handling the party’s accounts.
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Oparah also said the chairman had shunned all entireties to open the party’s books for scrutiny since the sale of expression of interest and nomination forms closed before the 2023 general elections.
“As National Treasurer, I am constrained to come before you and the public today because the internal mechanisms of our party have failed woefully to bring Mr Abure to account for his brazen abuse of office and misappropriation of party funds. His appetite for power has grown unchecked, and he has deliberately undermined my duties and authority as stipulated in the party’s constitution.”
“Since assuming office in 2021, Mr Abure has engaged in a series of actions that not only undermine the principles upon which the Labour Party was founded but also constitute grave violations of trust and fiduciary responsibility.
“His tenure has been marred by forgery, embezzlement, and corrupt enrichment, all at the expense of the party and its members. One of the most alarming aspects of Mr Abure’s conduct is his repeated denial of my access to the party’s financial records and bank accounts. Despite my role as National Treasurer and custodian of all party funds, bank and accounting records, I have been systematically prohibited from fulfilling my duties, including accessing essential information and bank statements necessary for proper financial oversight.
“Under Mr Abure’s watch, over N3.5bn was raised from the sale of nomination forms for the 2023 general elections. However, apart from the proceeds of the sale of forms from his home state of Edo -which was diverted to Mr Abure’s private accounts, he only declared N55 million to me as Treasurer, of the over N3.5 billion raised, pocketing the rest for himself.
“During off-cycle elections in several states last year, the party raised around N958m from nomination forms and donations. These funds have completely vanished under under Mr. Abure’s oversight – with zero paper trail,” Oparah said.
She added that while on a fundraising tour in the United States in August 2023, Abure and his cronies raised hundreds of thousands of dollars from the party’s diaspora community and that till date, he has not declared a single dollar to her or the NWC, essentially stealing donations meant for the party’s development.
Abure, in a response, signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Obiora Ifoh, said that Mrs Oparah, the National Treasurer, is under some external influences and merely read out a concocted statement drafted by their detractors to further smear the image of the party.
According to him, with the exception of the national treasurer whose tenure is about to end in few weeks time, and who has served for eight years without a single record of party accounts, no other member of the NWC has raised any issue of embezzlement against Abure who made a pledge on assumption that the party has to be revamped.
“Evidence is our proactive outing in the 2023 general election as the party presented for the first time a very good presidential candidate. Let it be said that the Labour Party has not earned N3.5bn as claimed and that the National Chairman has not embezzled any money that belongs to the party as alleged.
“The records are there, except that Ms Oluchi Opara don’t even understand simple accounting even as a treasurer. An External Auditor is engaged by the party and our account is under constant scrutiny of INEC or other regulatory bodies.
“Abure does not own several houses and property as spuriously alleged by our estranged National Treasurer, even though no law prohibits him from owning properties,” the statement said.
He also said that the constitution of the party in Article 14:1b provides that the National Chairman shall be the Accounting Officer of the party while 14:1d “Shall approve all expenditures and shall be a signatory to the Party’s Bank account(s)”
He said, “Accordingly, Article 14: 6 states that the National Treasurer “Shall receive and promptly pay into the Party’s account(s), all monies received for and on behalf of the Party.
“Shall ensure the preparation of Annual Statement of Account/Reports on finances of the Party including compilation of the Party’s Assets and liabilities and make same available to the National Executive Council from time to time. Shall be a co-signatory to the Party Account(s).
“These sections are clear as to the duty of the national chairman apart from providing leadership. The duty of the National Treasurer is also clearly spelt out.”
Ifoh also said that in the past, the party did not have accounting books or method as it was ran by the then chairman and Ms Oluchi the treasurer as they were only accountable to themselves.
“But with the emergence of the Abure led executive, and the growth of the party, it became imperative for the party to structure its accounting method and policy. This of course didn’t go down well with the National Treasurer whose financial source was shut down.
“The party can understanding her vituperations but we can’t help her situation moreso when her time in the NWC is running out. Her wish to cash out was not granted and her subtile effort to push the leadership to ‘settle’ her was rejected hence her resolve to fight dirty.
“It will be recalled that she is alone on this battle. Several stakeholders have had course to prevail on her to bridle her inordinate ambition but all to no avail. We are surprised that despite all effort to assure her of a future, she still went ahead to align with our detractors and sworn enemies of the party.
“The party will definitely take her case to the disciplinary committee where appropriate measure will be taken,” he said.
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