Secondus Recounts EFCC Ordeal
Prince Uche Secondus, Deputy National Chairman of the PDP[/caption]
· Says His Arrest Is A Clear Case Of Witch-Hunt
The Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Uche Secondus has described his arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as a clear case of witch-hunt and pure political persecution.
Secondus, who is under the investigation by the anti-graft agency, was arrested in connection with car gifts he allegedly received form Mr. Jide Omokore, who is a business man and close associate of former petroleum minister, Alison Diezani Madueke. The PDP Chieftain was however, granted administrative bail on Wednesday night after eight days in the EFCC custody.
Secondus revealed that the oil baron has been his friend for over 20 years, adding that he received car gifts from him as alleged.
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He however denied knowledge of transaction the investigators were alleging Omokore had with the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
He said, “I honoured an invitation from the EFCC to clarify issues related to an ongoing investigation by EFCC.
“They confronted me with allegations of receiving some cars from Mr. Jide Omokore who has been my friend for over 20 years.
According to him, what he received from the oil baron “were cars and buses supplied by a well-known car company, Skymit Motors apparently from a credit facility Mr. Omokore has with the company.”
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He, however, decried what he described as misrepresentation in the media of the subject of his arrest, and accused “some political opponents in the APC particularly, a Minister from Rivers State” of being behind the inducement of the media.
“This is in line with the strategy of the ruling party to hide under the anti-corruption fight to humiliate the leadership of our party.
“I have been granted bail under very stringent conditions after eight days in detention.
“Since the EFCC did not establish any case against me, I find my needless detention a clear case of witch-hunt and pure political persecution that has become a stock in trade of the APC government.
“My immediate concern is the denial of the fundamental human rights, excessive physical incarceration and the orchestrated negative media campaign completely skewed against those being investigated.
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“Nevertheless, I hereby restate my confidence in the rule of law and the relevant institutions for the resolution of this matter on its merit in the interest of justice,” he said.
