Campaign Funds: Probe Peter Obi, Afenifere, Yesufu – LP Tells EFCC, NSA

The National Security Adviser, NSA, and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been asked to probe Aisha Yesufu, Pastor Itua Ighodalo, the party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, and leaders of Afenifere over alleged misappropriation of funds from the 2023 Labour Party presidential campaign.

The National Working Committee of the Labour Party, LP made the call on Wednesday at a press conference in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

The LP had alleged that Yesufu, along with Pastor Ighodalo and other accomplices, mismanaged and diverted over N12bn and $15m donations intended for the Labour Party’s campaign.

But Yesufu denied the allegations, accusing the erstwhile Labour Party National Chairman, Julius Abure of lying about the party’s 2023 presidential campaign funds.

Yesufu produced evidence contradicting Abure’s claims that she and Pastor Itua Ighodalo managed the campaign funds.

Abure had noted that the party had no access to donation accounts, and Yesufu and Ighodalo were the sole signatories.

However, Yesufu shared a 2022 post from Abure himself, asking people to donate to the Labour Party account.

“Julius Abure thinks we are still in 1980 where one can lie shamelessly without being fact-checked,” Yesufu posted on X.

Julius Abure thinks we are still in 1980 where one can lie shamelessly without being fact checked.

— Aisha Yesufu (@AishaYesufu) September 10, 2024
https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, while speaking with journalists on Wednesday, expressed concern Yesufu’s comments.

Arabambi debunked Yesufu’s denials as attempts to cover up the alleged financial misconduct, berating her statements as an insult to the party’s leadership.

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He also accused Yesufu and her associates of acting under the direction of Obi, whom he described as a “political merchant,” to defraud the party.

Arabambi further implicated Afenifere leaders, including Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Akin Osuntokun, and Sola Ebiseni, accusing them of retaining over N600m in private accounts linked to Afenifere.

According to him, they were hired by Obi to commit fraud and divert funds from the Labour Party’s presidential campaign.

“The trio of Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Akin Osuntokun, and Sola Ebiseni were involved in financial infractions totaling over N600m, which they have kept in private accounts and Afenifere accounts.

“Peter Obi hired Aisha Yesufu, Pastor Itua Ighodalo, and this faction of Afenifere to commit looting, criminal conspiracy, and diversion of funds from the Labour Party’s presidential campaign while presenting themselves as elder statesmen,” Arabambi alleged.