The All Progressives Congress, APC, has demanded the probe of some Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains over their links to the suspected fraudster, Hushpuppi.
Hushpuppi was recently arrested by Dubai Police for fraud running into millions of dollars. He was arrested alongside several other accomplices and has been extradited to the US.
According to a statement signed by its Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, in Abuja, on Saturday, various security agents should investigate Atiku Abubakar, former PDP Presidential candidate, Bukola Saraki, former Senate President over their association with Hushpuppi.
He added that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, and the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, should also probe former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; and ex-Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye.
Nabena said the APC’s request for a probe was due to the meeting the PDP leaders had with the alleged fraudster in Dubai, prior to the 2019 presidential candidate.
The statement said: “We note that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has already declared the arraigned Instagram celebrity wanted over fraud allegations.
“However, the EFCC, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and other sister agencies must investigate money laundering reports linking some PDP leaders and financiers to the Dubai-based international criminal ring.”
“That the PDP leadership turned Dubai into their ‘Strategic’ meeting place ahead of the 2019 general elections in Nigeria and ‘Hushpuppi’s’ affinity with the PDP leadership is not mere coincidence.
“At different times, ‘Hushpuppi’ was photographed in Dubai meeting with the PDP’s 2019 presidential candidate, Alh. Atiku Abubakar; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Senator Dino Melaye among other PDP stalwarts.
“While relevant authorities investigate the nature of their relationship and business partnership, we also challenge the PDP leadership to do same by opening up on the nature of the relationship, particularly the kind of services the arrested “Hushpuppi” provided them.
“In the leadup to the Edo and Ondo governorship elections, we renewed our call against monetised elections and vote-buying schemes which the PDP serially deployed in elections.
“We call on relevant authorities to up their guard to prevent these practices that threaten the sanctity of our elections. The people’s will and votes should determine elections, not illicit money used to buy votes.”
