A former governor and some top leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) have been implicated in the N310million vehicles-for-party deal, which is being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC).
It was also learnt that the National Secretary of the PDP, Prof. Wale Oladipo, has not yet responded to the EFCC ‘s invitation.
Oladipo obtained a court injunction restraining the anti-graft commission from arresting him.
But it was gathered that the EFCC has begun the process to vacate the injunction.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that the EFCC has discovered that a former PDP governor allegedly collaborated with a businessman to divert oil receipts into buying vehicles for the PDP during the countdown to the 2015 polls.
It was gathered that the governor was also in the picture of the N310million vehicles given to PDP Deputy National Chairman Prince Uche Secondus, who is being detained by the EFCC.
A top source said: “The ongoing probe of the oil-receipts-vehicles-for-party deal has revealed that a former South-South governor and some chieftains of the PDP were involved. All these people will be invited for interrogation too.
“The former governor used his influence to prevail on the businessman to “donate vehicles” to the PDP.
“So far, only a former Minister of Foreign Affairs has admitted receiving a vehicle as a gift from Secondus.
“But some of those concerned have been desperate in looking for court injunctions to retrain the EFCC from either inviting or arresting them.”
Secondus, who was battling for bail yesterday, “is yet to make any commitment on the refund of the N310million oil receipts used to buy the 23 vehicles given to him by a businessman.
“He has said he needed a month to return the vehicles to the EFCC, but this is unacceptable to the anti-graft agency.
Secondus’ counsel Emeka Etiaba(SAN) said: “My client is still in detention, he is yet to be admitted to bail”.
Asked why Secondus was unprepared to refund N310million, Etiaba said: ” I am not aware he defrauded anybody. I am not aware he has been accused of stealing money. We are waiting for his bail.”
A Federal High Court in Abuja on Thursday restrained the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN), the EFCC, the Police, the Department of State Service(DSS) and the ICPC from arresting Oladipo.
The National Secretary of PDP rushed to the court following a February 8 text message from an operative in the Asset Tracing and Recovery Unit of the EFCC to him.
A source in the EFCC said: “We have initiated moves to prevail on the court to vacate the injunction. It is trite law that the court should hear from all the parties that were joined.
“It is curious that Oladipo is seeking a perpetual injunction to restrain the EFCC or any security or anti-graft agency from arresting him.”
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