I'm ashamed to be linked to Dasuki's $2.1m scandal - SDP Chairman says

dimeji akinloye

January 21, 2016 9:57 PM

The money he received is said to be from the $2.1bn meant for the procurement of weapons for the fight against Boko Haram.

The National Chairman of the Social Democratic Party, Chief Olu Falae, has said that latest next week, he would shed light into the controversial N100million he collected from the former chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Tony Anenih.

The money he received is said to be from the $2.1bn meant for the procurement of weapons for the fight against Boko Haram.

Speaking on Thursday, Jan. 21, during the National Executive Council meeting of SDP in Abuja, the elder statesman said he is ashamed that he is fingered the the $2.1bn arms scandal and associated with former National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki, who is at the center of it all.

Falae said he has not seen Dasuki since 1987, when he was ADC to ex-President Ibrahim Babangida's administration.

READ: SDP distances itself from N100m received by Falae

He said: “For people to even mention my name in connection with Dasuki, I feel ashamed for Nigerians to even say such a thing. It is wicked and a sin against God. I am sure they know that what I am saying is the truth; that there was no connection between SDP or myself with Dasuki.

“We did not take any money from Dasuki. The money sent to us was by the PDP based on the exchange of letters between us, which establishes the contract.

“Some people are still writing spurious nonsense but I intend to address the press sometimes next week, probably in Lagos, to tell my story so everybody can hear and the blackmailers can shut up forever.

“I said this because I can’t come here without addressing this issue, so that you you know what you take home. We are very proud of the way we have handled this matter.”

He described what the SDP is currently facing as a campaign of calumny by certain forces to discredit its leadership, boasting that the party would overcome it.

He added, “I have said so several times and I will say so now that as a believer in God, I did not collect even one naira from Col. Dasuki. Not just that, I have had absolutely no feelings whatsoever, with Col. Dasuki.

“I think the last time I saw Col. Dasuki must have been in 1987 when he was ADC to General Babangida and I was Secretary to the Federal Government of the Federation.

“So we worked together, that was on 1987. That is 29 years ago. So, ladies and gentlemen, please, put your mind at rest. I have nothing to do with Dasuki. I took no money from Dasuki.

The N100m they are talking about, it was the money sent by the PDP to your party, SDP, following our endorsement of their presidential candidate.”

However, the SDP chieftain had said theEconomic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), did not ask him to refund any money.

dimeji akinloye