No truth to claim LP CTC chair, Usman, returned N140m to EFCC —Group

There is no truth to the claim that the Chairperson of the Caretaker Committee (CTC) of the opposition Labour Party (LP), Sen. Nenadi Usman, returned N140 million in looted funds to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

LP members under the aegis of the Core Social Democrat (CSD) in the South-South issued a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, faulting a report by Sahara Reporters that Usman allegedly returned N140 million out of N2.5 billion received from the office of the former National Security Adviser (NSA) ahead of the 2015 presidential poll.

Led by Mr Eric Ifere, the group described the report in the online publication as not only false and unfounded but also defamatory.

Sen. Usman, appointed to lead the 29-member CTC of the Labour Party on September 4 during an extended stakeholders’ meeting held in Umuahia, Abia State, was mandated to rescue the party from its current leadership crisis and organise a convention to elect new party leadership within 90 days.

However, Sahara Reporters, in a story published on September 6, alleged that the ex-minister, who was appointed to lead the LP CTC, “is currently being prosecuted in various courts for alleged financial fraud.”

The online media said: “It had also been reported that Senator Usman returned N140 million out of the N2.5 billion allegedly received from the office of the former National Security Adviser ahead of the 2015 Presidential elections.

“In addition, the former senator, who served as the Director of Finance for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Presidential Campaign Organisation, surrendered two of her houses to the Federal Government as a condition for her release from the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).”

In reaction to the report, Ifere stressed the unfairness of the situation.

“We, the Core Social Democrat members of the Labour Party of Nigeria in the South-South, have noticed the malicious lies perpetrated by Sahara Reporters against our newly appointed chairman of the caretaker committee of the Labour Party, Senator Nenadi Esther Usman.

“We note that Sahara Reporters’ publication of September 6, 2024, stating that Senator Usman returned N140 million out of the N2.5 billion allegedly received from the office of the former National Security Adviser ahead of the 2015 Presidential elections and further surrendered two of her houses to the Federal Government as a condition for her release from the custody of the EFCC, is false, unfounded, and malicious,” he said.

The lawyer, who also made a certified true copy of the judgement of the Appeal Court sitting in Lagos available to the media, said: “Senator Nenadi Usman’s charges at the Federal High Court, Lagos, were quashed by the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos, presided over by Justice Mohammed Ambi-Usi JCA of Lagos Division, on April 20, 2023, in Appeal NO CA/L/CR/541/2021.

“It is inappropriate for Sahara Reporters to insinuate guilt against her when the Court of Appeal quashed the charges against her.”

According to Ifere, it is also necessary to correct the misinformation spread by Sahara Reporters, as there is no evidence to support their claim that Senator Nenadi Usman returned any funds or properties to the Federal Government of Nigeria in connection with any criminal trial.

“This unjust attack on her character is a grave concern to us and all who value democracy and justice.

“The narrative propagated by Sahara Reporters to tarnish Senator Nenadi Usman’s reputation is baseless and lacks evidence.

“It is an unfair assault on her character. From the beginning, it has been a groundless fabrication, and we staunchly uphold Senator Nenadi Usman’s innocence until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction,” he said.

The CSD leader said the sheer lack of basis for these allegations should reassure all who uphold fairness and justice of Usman’s integrity.

“The deliberate misrepresentation of facts and the creation of false narratives by Sahara Reporters to serve their hidden agenda is a breach of the trust of journalists to uphold the code of accuracy and standards for factual reporting.

“We believe that Sahara Reporters’ motive for such overblown lies was instigated by their irritating intentions to derail the Labour Party’s mission to organise into a formidable force and opposition in the forthcoming elections as desired by Nigerians who are looking for a purposeful government to free them from the hunger clutches of the present government.

“This is a significant stain on journalism and a direct attack on democracy,” he said.

He said LP, as a political entity, is committed to justice and fairness.

“We stand by Senator Nenadi Usman in this unjust attack on her character,” he said.

According to him, through their false story, Sahara Reporters misled readers into believing that Senator Nenadi had acknowledged criminal liability in any alleged charges purportedly by refunding sums of money and houses to the Federal Government, which she denies.

He said such unfounded allegations could severely damage her reputation and hinder her ability to serve effectively in her political role.

Besides, Ifere said the report came even when an Appeal Court sitting in Lagos State had quashed the charges filed against Usman before the Federal High Court, Lagos.

“We are deeply disappointed by Sahara Reporters, a media outlet that claims to uphold democracy and justice.

“The fabrication of such false stories, seemingly without any justifiable reason or maliciously sponsored by enemies of the Labour Party, breaches the trust of Sahara Reporters as journalists.

“This disheartening revelation undermines the credibility of Sahara Reporters and the media. The disappointment in their actions is profound, a sentiment that we believe is shared by many and underscores the gravity of the situation.

“In conclusion, we reiterate our demand that Sahara Reporters retract the defamatory story and issue a public apology immediately.

“This is not just a request but a demand that carries significant weight.

“Failure to do so could result in legal action from Senator Nenadi Usman, which would damage the reputation of Sahara Reporters and incur significant costs.

“We urge Sahara Reporters to act responsibly and correct the grave injustice they have done to Senator Nenadi’s reputation without further delay.

“This is a matter of justice and fairness that we, as the Labour Party, are committed to uphold,” he said.