The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and an unnamed cabal of plotting to siphon the repatriated $322 million (app. N115 billion) under the cover of sharing the money to the poor in 19 states.
The opposition party made this known in a Wednesday statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.
Recall that Switzerland recently repatriated the funds as part of the infamous Abacha loot.
Read the full statement below:
“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says it has uncovered a grand design by leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and a cabal to siphon the repatriated $322 million (about N115 billion), under the cover of sharing the money to the poor in 19 states.
“The party said its investigations show that out of the estimated 300,000 households listed as beneficiaries, more than 90 percent are phony family names supplied by fraudulent government officials, as conduit to channel the repatriated money to APC leaders and the cabal.
“Further investigation revealed that the cabal is responsible for the stampede to spend the money without recourse to the constitutionally required approval and appropriation of the National Assembly.
“It is more shocking to note that President Muhammadu Buhari, who is regularly availed of information, particularly on corruption issues, approved the dispensing of the money, without the required legislative due diligence process, thereby opening the vaults for looters in the APC.
“While the PDP has nothing against any genuine plan to benefit Nigerians in anyway, we believe that President Buhari is aware of the requirements of the constitution regarding the disbursement of funds belonging to the federation and we urge Nigerians to hold him responsible for this wicked plot by APC interests to use innocent citizens as cover to loot the repatriated fund.
“The PDP therefore calls on the National Assembly to protect the interest of Nigerians by immediately employing its legislative instruments to stop the re-looting of the repatriated money.”