APC to EFCC, others: Investiage PDP leaders link with Hushpuppi

Jide OrintunsinAbujaThe ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on anti-graft agencies to investigate the link between some notable leaders of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the leader of the Dubai based international e-fraudster Ramon Olorunwa Abbas popularly known as Hushpuppi.The party said the media space has been awashed with reports of criminal conspiracy linking some top echelon of the PDP with the fraudster who is currently facing criminal charges on cyber-enabled fraud in the United States of America.The party through its Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the governing party, Mr. Yekini Nabena in a statement in Abuja on Saturday demanded for an investigation by the countrys anti-graft agencies of money laundering allegedly linking some PDP leaders and financiers to the Dubai-based international criminal ring.The statement reads in part: Reports of the criminal conspiracy linking the top echelon of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with Ramon Olorunwa Abbas also known as Ray Hushpuppi who was recently arrested along with associate(s) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and extradited to the United States of America to face trial over cyber-enabled fraud and Business Email Compromise (BEC) schemes should be a matter of serious interest to relevant authorities in Nigeria.We note that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has already declared the arraigned Instagram celebrity wanted over fraud allegations. However, the EFCC, Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) and other sister agencies must investigate money laundering reports linking some PDP leaders and financiers to the Dubai-based international criminal ring.READ ALSO:Hushpuppi arraigned in U.S., faces 20 years in prison if convictedThe party said the call for investigation became necessary in order to unravel the choice of Dubai for the pre-2019 general election strategic meetings of the opposition party and the reported relationship of Hushpuppi and some leaders including the opposition Presidential candidate.According to Nabena, PDP leadership turned Dubai into their Strategic meeting place ahead of the 2019 general elections in Nigeria and Hushpuppis affinity with the PDP leadership is not mere coincidence.At different times, Hushpuppi was seen photographed in Dubai meeting with the PDPs 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.Ahead of Edo and Ondo governorship elections, the ruling party in the statement renewed its call against monetised elections and vote buying schemes which the PDP has serially deployed in past elections.The party then urged relevant authorities to up their guard to prevent this practices that threaten the sanctity of our elections. The peoples will and votes should determine elections, not illicit money used to buy votes.
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