A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Olu Falae, has given more details on how he disbursed N100 million he received from a leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Tony Anenih, ahead of the 2015 elections.
The money was part of at least $2.1 billion allegedly diverted by a former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, from arms purchase to politicians.
Falae has admitted receiving the funds from Anenih, a former chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees and that the fund was received through the account of his party, Social Democratic Party, before it was distributed to the state branches of the party.
He also dispelled the statements by some party members that they were not aware that the N100 million was received by the party from the PDP, for the elections.
“It is true I received the money for the party and then it was distributed to the state branches of the party for onward distribution to other levels of the party.
“The money came through the party’s account and it was through this account that the monies were distributed.
“The account is there for everyone to verify. I can assure you that all the branches of the party in the states received the money.”
Falae said it was unfair for some party members to claim that they were not aware of the donation, because their respective branches were informed and received the money.
“We have over 200,000 people in the party, am I supposed to go around telling every one that I have received the money,” he asked.
Falae noted that once the party leaders were involved, they reached out to those at the grassroots.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had traced the fund to the PDP, which also used part of the fund to mobilise other political parties to support President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election bid.
The ex-Minister of Finance noted that both SDP and the PDP did not discuss money during the negotiation, while the conditions given were in the best interest of the country.
“They realised that the SDP had no money; we had no government (post). He (Anenih) said without money, we would not be able to be effective. So, he sent us the money, which I passed on to the SDP and it was distributed to all the states (chapters) of the federation, while our people were instructed to campaign for their presidential candidate during the election. This was the story.”
When Falae was asked to confirm his alleged failure to remit all the money to the party, he said, “It is a lie. I am the chief fundraiser for the party and the money I (have) raised and remitted to the party is well over N200m.”
He pointed out that the party has its own bank account where money passes, while there were other executives of the party who knew about its finances.
“My integrity cannot be impugned by unserious people. They wanted to drag us into Dasukigate; they couldn’t do that. The money we got was remitted to the party for the election.
“I have my integrity intact. I was a former MD of a bank, I was a former minister and a former secretary to the government of the federation.
“Once they cannot link us to the Dasuki thing, they are coming up with all sorts of things. Based on my integrity, these allegations should be discarded. At 78, what will I be doing with public funds.”
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