PDP insists money paid to officials not bribe, passed through due process

The National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has insisted that the money paid to its national officers was not a bribe but a housing allowance that passed through due process.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Party National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, on Tuesday night after the party NWC meeting in Abuja.

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Ologunagba said that the NWC at its meeting on Tuesday thoroughly examined the strange publication by a particular newspaper which reported that the housing allowance legally paid by the Party to its national officers was a bribe.

“After thorough scrutiny of the payment by the party, the NWC in session established that the payment was not a bribe but housing allowance.

“Allowance duly approved and paid to national officers of the party in line with the conditions of service and entitlement of the staff and principal officers of the party.

“The NWC also established that the payment passed through due process procedures of the party in accordance with all extant financial regulations and payment approval processes of the party.

“It Is also instructive to state that the national officers who returned their housing allowances equally confirmed and affirmed at the meeting that the payment was not a bribe.

“They affirmed it was their due entitlements in line with the conditions of service and entitlement of the staff and principal officers of the party,” Ologunagba said.

He added that considering the above, the NWC resolved to conduct an extensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the said publication by the newspaper of September 26.

He said that the newspaper publication was clearly targeted to cause disaffection among members and stakeholders of the party as well as bring the party to disrepute before its teeming supporters all over the world, particularly in an election year.

“Consequently, the NWC has set up an investigative committee headed by the National Legal Adviser to conduct an inquiry into the source of the said malicious and injurious publication.”

According to Ologunagba, the committee has one week to investigate the matter and report to the NWC for further action. (NAN)