By our reporter
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has reportedly initiated probe to unravel how major political parties and their aspirants were able to raise huge sums paid for expression of interest and nomination forms ahead of the 2023 general election.
According to reliable source, EFCC has reached out to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and banks operated by the political parties for detailed information of their finances.
The report said the affected banks include Access and Polaris, where the two major political parties the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) maintained 14 accounts.
The anti-graft agency is also said to be beaming its searchlight on various groups which purchased forms for individuals vying for elective positions ahead of 2023.
According to the report, the agency had in a letter with reference number CB.3383/EFCC/HOPS/HQ/VOL.1/28, to Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the INEC chairman, dated May 9, 2022, signed by its Director of Operations, Michael Wetkas, demanded for detailed information on the finances of the political parties.
It was also said to have written another letter to the managing directors of Access Bank and Polaris Bank in Abuja to furnish it with information on the accounts 0692988080, 0035644896 and 0044183689 in Access Bank belonging to the APC; an account with number 0054586830 owned by the National Secretariat of the PDP, and three other accounts by Umbrella Trust Limited – 0076600091, 0066988655 and 0068595990.
The affected accounts in Polaris Bank include one of the accounts belongs to the APC (1771444115), while two are operated by the PDP – 1140060876 and 1770319690 – and four by the ‘PDP Fund Raising Dinner’ – 1771643176, 177647521, 177164514 and 1771647507.
