Alleged $17m Bribe: Group Calls For Arrest, Prosecution Of Oshiomhole, APC Guber Aspirant

A coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) under auspices of the Coalition for Democratic Watchdog of Nigeria has tasked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arraign the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Mallam Daudu Lawal, the Governorship aspirant from Zamfara state over allegations bordering on corruption.

The group, which disclosed this in a statement signed in Abuja by Comrade Yunusa Idris, and sent to 9news Nigeria,  noted that the bribery allegations against Oshiomhole runs in excess of 50 million US dollars.

The coalition also alleged that this whooping sum was contributed from several states which includes: Imo, Ogun, Zamfara, amongst others which prompted the quizzing by the Department of State Security (DSS) and consequent report by the secret service.

The group further  stated that “the EFCC, under Ibrahim Magu had last week invited Malam Daudu Lawal, a Governorship aspirant of Zamfara state who allegedly has given a bribe of  $17m to the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole. Malam Daudu Lawal has been detained in EFCC custody since last week without being charged to court. Adams Oshiomhole who allegedly received the $17m as bribe has not been invited by the anti graft agency (the EFCC), let alone being charged to court.”

It reminded that one of the cardinal objectives of President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration is hinged on its determination to eradicate corruption in Nigeria or at least reduce it to the barest minimum which it said was largely embraced by all and sundry – thus, the erstwhile administration perceived by many Nigerians to be riddled with corruption was pushed out via the 2015 protest vote against wide spread corruption in the country.

“Nigerians reserve the right to know the reasons for the following actions: Why Adams Oshiomhole has not been invited by the EFCC and charged to court even with multiple corruption allegations dangling round his neck for an administration that was voted based on the anticorruption pedigree even when one Bishop Ochei from Edo state had on October 28, 2016 petitioned the EFCC against Oshiomhole on his activities while the Governor of Edo state.

“What has indeed become of the DSS report on the litany of Oshiomhole’s bribery allegations?

“Why Mallam Daudu Lawal is still in the EFCC detention without being charged to court.

“Why the alleged bribe giver is being incarcerated in the EFCC custody while the alleged receiver is moving freely unperturbed and unmolested for a party that preaches war against corruption.

“Could it be that Oshiomhole is being shielded by the powers that be against the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria?

“For these questions, millions of Nigerians reserve the right to get answers in a nation that belongs to all of us.

“The coalition of CSOs maintain that it would keep monitoring events as is unfolds and urge the anti-graft agency to immediately charge both the alleged giver and taker to court for the same offence that emanated from the same transaction.”