Abuja – The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has denied bribery allegations over returned housing allowance released to some members of its National Working Committee (NWC).
The party made the denial in a statement issued by Debo Ologunagba,the National Publicity Secretary of the party.
“The attention of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to misrepresenting reports in a section of the media alluding strange and unfounded motives to the Housing Allowance duly approved and paid to NWC members and staff of the Party
The NWC has noted that this misleading report stemmed from an unfounded publication by a particular media outlet which suggested that the Housing Allowance, an entitlement duly approved and paid to national officials and staff of the Party amounted to bribery.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the PDP states in an unequivocal term that no funds were paid into the account of any member of the NWC as bribe for any purpose whatsoever for that matter.
“To set the record straight, the Housing Allowance being referred to went through the Due Process of the Party in line with the Conditions of Service and Entitlement of the Staff and Principal Officers of the Party.
“If any individual, for any reason decides to return money duly approved and paid, such does not in any way suggest that the money was paid as bribe or indicate that it was illegitimate or unlawfully paid.
“A bribe is defined as “money or any other valuable consideration given or promised with a view to corrupting the behavior of a person especially in that person’s performance as a public official…”.
“This is not the case in the payment of Housing Allowance duly approved for officials and staff of the Party,” the statement explained.
The party urged its supporters, members and the general to disregard the report and the ” misleading insinuation which are clearly designed to malign the PDP, cause disaffection and distract the party from our mission to Rescue, Rebuild and Redirect our nation from the misrule of the All Progressives Congress.” (vitalnewsngr.com)
