The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has commenced a forensic investigation into the finances of the 18 political parties in the country and their presidential aspirants ahead of the 2023 general election.

The EFCC, it was gathered, has written a letter to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), demanding the bank accounts and other financial details of the political parties.

The move by the anti-graft agency followed the huge fees paid for expression of interest and nomination forms by aspirants vying for various elective positions in 2023.

Recall that the EFCC Chairman, Abdulrasheed Bawa, said the anti-graft agency would monitor the source of the funds used in purchasing political party nomination forms ahead of the 2023 general election.

Bawa, who spoke on Channels Television’s programme, Politics Today, last Friday, said the EFCC was working with INEC to establish the source of the funds.

The All Progressives Congress had pegged the cost of its presidential nomination forms at N100 million, while that of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was pegged at N40 million.

APC governorship aspirants paid N50m, while persons who declared for Senate, House of Representatives and state Houses of Assembly paid N20m, N10m and N2m, respectively for their nomination and expression of interest forms.

On the other hand, the PDP sold its governorship forms for N21m; Senate, N3.5m; House of Representatives, N2.5m; and state Houses of Assembly, N600,000.

Speaking last Friday, Bawa said EFCC was working with INEC and other agencies to ensure that corrupt persons are not given leadership positions in the country, noting that N100m was a lot of money as most people would not see it in their lifetime.

However, it was learnt that the EFCC has begun a forensic investigation and tracking of the finances of the political parties, interest groups, and aspirants vying elective offices in the 2023 general election.

It was gathered that the anti-graft had also asked the managing directors of Access Bank and Polaris Bank to provide the details of the 14 accounts operated by the APC, PDP, and another organisation believed to be connected to the opposition party.

According to PUNCH, the EFCC, in a letter to the INEC Chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, dated May 9, 2022, signed by its Director of Operations, Michael Wetkas, on behalf of the chairman, demanded a list of all political parties, their designated bank accounts and any other information that could aid its investigation.

The letter with reference number CB.3383/EFCC/HOPS/HQ/VOL.1/28 was titled, ‘Investigation activities’.

It read: “The commission is conducting an inquiry in which the need to obtain certain information from your commission is imperative.

“In view of the foregoing, you are requested to kindly avail the following information: list of all registered political parties; list of designated accounts submitted by the political parties to your commission; any other information that may assist the commission in its investigation.

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“This request is made pursuant to sections 38(1) and (2) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, 2004.

“While thanking you immensely for your continuous cooperation and collaboration, please accept the assurances of the chairman’s esteemed regards.”

The anti-graft agency, in another letter, also signed by the Head of Operations, informed the managing directors of Access Bank and Polaris Bank in Abuja that it was investigating 14 accounts of the two dominant parties.

According to the letters, the investigation involves 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.

In Polaris Bank, 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.

Wetkas wrote: “The commission is investigating a case in which the above-mentioned account names and numbers featured.

“In view of the above, you are kindly requested to forward the certified true copies of the following: Account opening packages/mandate cards; statement of account from January 2021 to date (hard and soft copies). The soft copy should be copied to excel format and forwarded to cagomuo@effc.gov.ng.”

The letter also requested the certificate of identification pursuant to Section 84(4) of the Evidence Act, 2011. (The certifying officer should include his full name, designation, signature and date on each page).

The commission also requested the banks to furnish it with any other relevant information that could assist the investigation.

No fewer than 28 aspirants bought the APC presidential forms, which closed on Friday, while 17 aspirants purchased PDP presidential nomination forms, two of whom were screened out.

Meanwhile, both the APC and PDP had yet to speak on the development as of the time of filing this report.

The Star