SDP: Investigative committee submits report on suspended National Chairman, 2 others

By Emmanuel Oloniruha

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) panel set up to investigate the suspended National Chairman of the party, Shehu Gabam and two other national officers, has submitted its report to the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the committee which submitted its report to the NWC at the party national headquarters on Friday in Abuja, did not disclosed its findings and recommendations.

The five-man investigative committee chaired by Abubakar Liman, inaugurated on July 4 was to investigate the suspended trio over alleged financial misconduct, and submit it report within 14 days.

The NWC had on July 1 suspended Gabam as the national chairman, Nze Clarkson as National Auditor and Uchechukwu Chukwuma, over alleged involvement in gross financial misconduct, including funds generated from the 2023 general elections.

Liman submitting the report explained that the committee in carrying out its mandates wrote letters of invitation to the allegedly accused party members and all NWC to appear at given dates and times to make statements about their levels of involvement or otherwise.

He added that all members of the NWC, personal staff of the suspended chairman, contractors and the external auditor were invited in the interest of natural justice and fair hearing.

“It is noteworthy that it’s the only suspended national auditor that honored the invitation amongst the three allegedly accused persons.

“While among the NWC members, only the national organising secretary vehemently refused to honour the committee’s invitation.

“It is safe to state that the committee obtained sufficient evidence from the Statements of all those that appeared before it.

“Additionally, the documentary evidence provided by the NWC were valuable to the Committee,” he said

Liman added that drawing from the statements, interactions and the documents, the committee made some findings and far-reaching recommendations.

He expressed hope that the party would implement the recommendations with a view to repositioning SDP to effectively and efficiently perform its functions.

“The committee is also of the view that this Report would impact positively on the party and Nigeria at large, if its recommendations are religiously implemented.

“This is because the recommendations were not for the uplift of the party alone, but to send a clear message to Nigerians that they should not lose hope in our democratic process and leaderships at all levels,” he said.

Receiving the report, SDP acting National Chairman of the party, Dr Sadiq Gombe, said that the party leadership would study the report carefully for implementation.

He said that the recommendations would be implemented in the best interest of the party and the country at large.

SDP National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye said the panel was instituted to find out how all the infractions were committed.

Agunloye said the aim was to prevent the reoccurrence of the misconduct in future in the interest of the party and the nation’s democratic process.(NAN)