Police arrest PDP chairman over alleged dud cheque

The chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Idowu Faleye has been arrested by the Police in connection with the N1.5 million dud cheque issued for the payment of the party’s secretariat rent

The dud cheque was issued to a former chairman of the party, Chief Ropo Adesanya who is the owner of the property. He has since defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC

Faleye was said to have been arrested on Wednesday evening by a special police squad from the Force Headquarters Abuja, following a petition written by Adesanya to the police on the matter

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in Ekiti State, Alberto Adeyemi, confirmed the arrest of Faleye in a telephone chat with reporters on Thursday.

“It is true that he was arrested by officers from the Force Headquarters who came from Abuja.”

Faleye would have been whisked to Abuja immediately after his arrest but he reportedly pleaded that he be released on health ground to receive medical attention.

He promised to report to the Force Headquarters on Tuesday after he might have been examined and certified fit by his doctor.

Former PDP Chairman, Bola Olu-Ojo and Special Adviser to the Governor on Due Process, Segun Akinwumi, signed an undertaking to have Faleye released from detention on Wednesday.

They promised that Faleye would on Tuesday  submit himself for the commencement of the investigation of his complicity in the issuance of dud cheque to the landlord.

The PDP in Ekiti has been polarized into two factions with Faleye leading the faction loyal to Governor Ayo Fayose while Tunde Olatunde chairs the other faction.

The party changed signatories to the account following Faleye’s purported resignation from office on May 12 at a State Working Committee (SWC) held at the party secretariat.

A letter of change of signatories dated May 12 and addressed to the manager of the bank reads: “At the state exco meeting of Tuesday, 12/05/2015, a resolution was passed to change our signatories in line with the developments in the party.

“I was mandated to forward the extracts of the minutes to you for necessary action. Let the signatories to our accounts be Mr. Olatunde Olatunde (Acting Chairman) to replace Comrade Idowu Faleye (the suspended Acting Chairman) in line with the party constitution.

“All other signatories like Dr. TKO Aluko (Secretary) and Hon. Adeolu Aluko (Treasurer) remain valid and confirmed.”

Olatunde  who was Vice Chairman (North) was appointed Acting Chairman following Faleye’s purported resignation from office but the governor’s faction later moved against the Olatunde-led faction.

Olatunde and three other SWC members-Aluko, Mrs. Busola Oyebode (Women Leader) and Tunji Olanrewaju (Auditor) were first ‘suspended’ before they were later ‘expelled’ after they were tried by a disciplinary committee raised by