By Tope Sunday, Abuja
The former Edo state Commissioner for Information, Prince Kazeem Afegbua, Wednesday, raised the alarm that he has been receiving threat calls since he dragged the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before the anti-graft agencies over alleged misappropriation of funds.
Afegbua, who was the spokesperson of the PDP 2019 Presidential Campaign Council, had in a petition through his lawyer, Dr. Kayode Ajulo dated 23rd April, 2021, asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate the financial transactions of the party under Chief Uche Secondus.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja, the ex- Edo state Commissioner for Information said despite denials by the party, he stood by his claims that PDP generated N10bn from the sales of forms during the 2019 general elections.
Afegbua, who said he would pursue the petition to a logical conclusion, said should EFCC and ICPC delay their investigations, he would apply for an order of mandamus to compel them to take appropriate action.
He said: “ Aside from the open threat by one Kola Ologbondiyan during my appearance on AIT’s Democracy Today programme on Tuesday, 20th April, where he stated that “we will deal with you’’, I have been receiving threat calls from unknown persons.
“ I have respectively instructed my lawyers, Kayode Ajulo & Co to petition the Inspector General of Police on this very serious threat, especially in a country that is replete with murder, assassination and blood-letting. My resolve to pursue this petition to a logical conclusion is unequivocal. I will not submit to blackmail, intimidation, harassment, nor deliberate threat for whatever purpose.
“Despite denials by the party’s publicist, I still stand on my initial figure of N10bn being the money generated from the sales of forms for presidential, gubernatorial, senatorial, house of representatives and house of assembly elections in 2019 as well as donations.
“In conclusion, should the EFCC and ICPC delay in carrying out this investigation, I will have no option than to apply for an order of mandamus to compel them to take the appropriate action’’.
Afegbua, however, called on the two anti-graft agencies to judicial notice of Morufu Nigeria Limited, Retrobox Nigeria Limited and one Abdullahi Kabiru with a view to scrutinizing their alleged roles in the financial flow of PDP’s finances.