APC links Atiku, PDP hierarchy to Hushpuppi, alleges criminal conspiracy

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) has linked ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar and other chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to alleged fraudster, Ramon Olorunwa Abbas, popularly known as Hushpuppi.

Hushpuppi was arrested last month by United Arab Emirates (UAE) law enforcement officials over alleged multi-cyber crimes and money laundering.

 

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) special agents earlier this week obtained custody of Abbas and took him to the US to face a charge of conspiring to engage in money laundering that is alleged in a criminal complaint filed on June 25 by federal prosecutors in Los Angeles.

The Nigerian made his first appearance in a US court on Thursday in Chicago after being expelled from the UAE.

In a statement signed by
Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, the ruling party called on authorites to investigate “criminal conspiracy linking the top echelon of the opposition” to Hushpuppi.

According to the APC, ” the PDP leadership turned Dubai into their ‘Strategic’ meeting place ahead of the 2019 general elections”.

It added that at different times, Hushpuppi was photographed in Dubai meeting with PDP stalwarts including its presidential candidate; former Senate President, Bukola Saraki; former Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; Senator Dino Melaye among other.

Ahead of the polls in Edo and Ondo States, the APC, however, called on relevant “authorities to up their guard to prevent this practices that threaten the sanctity of our elections.”

Read full statement below:

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.

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 been 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 renew our call against monetised elections and vote-buying schemes which the PDP has serially deployed in elections. We call on relevant authorities to up their guard to prevent this practices that threaten the sanctity of our elections. The people’s will and votes should determine elections, not illicit money used to buy votes.

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