SDP inaugurates committee to probe suspended chair, 2 others over alleged N1bn fraud

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The National Working Committee (NWC) of Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Friday inaugurated a five-man committee to investigate the suspended National Chairman of the party, Shehu Gabam and two other national officers over alleged gross financial misappropriation and diversions of party’s funds estimated at more than N1 billion.

The trio were suspended by the party over alleged financial misconduct.

The investigative committee is chaired by Abubakar Liman, while Adelewa Williams is to serve as secretary.

The acting National Chairman of the Party, Dr Sadiq Gombe inaugurated the committee at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.

He said that the committee has 14 days to conduct the investigation and report back to the party.

He said that the exercise was not meant to witch-hunt anyone.

Gombe said that the exercise was rather to cleanse and reposition SDP for the immense role it must play in the up-coming elections and in the political future of the country.

The NWC had on Tuesday announced the suspension of Gabam as the national chairman, Nze Clarkson as National Auditor and Uchechukwu Chukwuma as National Youth Leader.

The party had alleged that the trio were involved in gross financial misconduct, including funds generated from the 2023 general elections.

Gabam had earlier described financial allegations against him as false, saying he had nothing to hide

But Gombe, in his remarks, urged the committee members to carry the responsibility with utmost sense of duty, transparency and fairness without fear or favour.

He also advised the committee to show decorum, dignity and decency to the persons who appeared before them and to one another.

“It is paramount to begin on the constitutional presumption that those accused of any wrong doing before you are innocent, until the contrary is proved.

“Let the law, good conscience and equity be your guiding principles not political considerations.

“Let the truth be your anchor. Obey the rule of law and observe natural justice which essentially means that no one can be a judge in his own case and you must hear both sides thoroughly before coming to a finding.

“In discharging your duties, we implore you to be just and impartial. Let your findings speak for themselves,” he said.

In his remarks the party National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye, said that the committee was to investigate Gabam and others over alleged gross financial misappropriation and diversions of SDP funds estimated at more than N1 billion.

Agunloye said that the committee would also investigate alleged submission of “fraudulent audited financial reports” with several abnormalities to INEC by Gabam without the knowledge of the NWC members.

He alleged that upon observations into SDP financial bank statements from First Bank of Nigeria and Zenith Bank PLC, the NWC noted multiple breaches of the SDP 2022 Constitution as amended, especially Articles 13, 17 and 19.

He further alleged that there were no presentations or submissions of any incomes or expenditures to NWC from 2022 to 2025, but only three members out of 12 NWC members were aware of any details of the party’s incomes and expenditures.

He said that NWC observed that there were no due processes or internal audit procedures followed the disbursement of N100 million of SDP funds.

The Terms of Reference of the committee according to Agunloye were to: fact-finding the truth regarding the allegations of breaches of the SDP constitution

“Examine the state of the accounts of the SDP. Determine the circumstances surrounding the production and submission of audited accounts submitted to INEC in the name of the SDP

“Recommend appropriate remedies and generally, advice on better ways to manage the finances of the SDP to prevent abuse and breach of our constitution,” he said.

He noted that the suspension of the three officers had been communicated to INEC; Inter Party Advisory Council, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The SDP National Labour and Civil Society Secretary, Mrs Rosemary Effiong, said that the suspension had nothing to do about coalition of political parties.

She alleged that only Gabam receives alerts on the party’s bank transactions, while the party national treasurer had also raised alarm of her signature being forged to withdraw money.

Effiong also said that since she joined the party’s NWC, the committee had never discussed the party financial status.

Also the SDP National Welfare Secretary, Judith Shuaibu said it was not that the NWC had been manipulated or quite for long over the development in the party leadership.

Shuaibu said that the NWC had explored all the internal mechanism to resolve the issue before the suspension of Gabam. (NAN)