The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is demanding the immediate and unconditional release of the Deputy Director General (Administration) of its Presidential Campaign Organization, Tanimu Turaki, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Mr. Turaki, who was a presidential aspirant under the PDP, was allegedly arrested today by operatives of the EFCC for no stated reason, according to the party.
In a statement, the PDP claimed that “Turaki’s arrest and detention is part of the grand plot by the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress (APC) to use state apparatus of power to intimidate PDP leaders”.
It said, “Since the people’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the PDP expressed our unwavering determination to reclaim our victory at the tribunal, being armed with overwhelming evidence, our leaders have been subjected to escalated harassments, constant threats, blackmails, cajoling and contrivances by the APC to drop our legal option.”
According to the PDP, the former minister under the Goodluck Jonathan administration was arrested and detained after being invited by the EFCC to endorse a bail document for the Finance Director of Atiku Abubakar’s company, Babalele Abdullahi, who was arrested on Saturday by the commission over alleged money laundering.
The vowed that it would pursue its decision to challenge the outcome of the presidential election in court to its logical end.
The EFCC had earlier arrested the finance director of Atiku’s group of companies and his son-in-law, Babalele Abdullahi, for alleged money laundering.
Turaki’s arrest brings to three the number of Atiku’s staff that have been picked in days by the financial crime body.
Atiku’s lawyer, Uyi Giwa Osagie is in EFCC custody.
In a statement issued by the PDP spokesman Kola Ologbondiyan, the party warned that Turaki should be release immediately and unconditionally.
It said the arrest and detention of the campaign deputy D-G was part of the grand plot by the Buhari Presidency and the All Progressives Congress, APC, to use state apparatus of power to intimidate PDP leaders and scuttle PDP’s determination to reclaim our February 23, 2019 Presidential election victory in court.
The statement read: “Since the people’s candidate, Atiku Abubakar and the PDP expressed our unwavering determination to reclaim our victory at the tribunal, being armed with overwhelming evidence, our leaders have been subjected to escalated harassments, constant threats, blackmails, cajoling and contrivances by the APC to drop our legal option.
“It is instructive to state that Tanimu Turaki was arrested and detained upon invitation by the EFCC to endorse a bail document for the Finance Director of Atiku Abubakar’s company, Babalele Abdullahi, who was arrested earlier by the commission over flimsy allegations.
“The PDP, however, states in clear terms that the APC and the Buhari Presidency are fighting a lost battle as no amount of harassment and threats will ever make the party to buckle in its determination to take back the mandate, in line with the wishes and aspirations of Nigerians.
“Nigerians are resolute on this struggle to reclaim the mandate freely given to Atiku Abubakar at the polls and the PDP will pursue this decision to its logical end and secure justice for the Nigerian people”.
Meanwhile, the EFCC through its acting spokesman Tony Orilade, on Monday said it was investigating a case of money laundering against Abdullahi and would speak further at the appropriate time.
