- As Kano PDP strategises on response to graft allegations
From Desmond Mgboh, Kano
FORMER minister of Education, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, said yesterday, he is prepared to spend 10 years with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to prove his innocence on allegations of partaking in the sharing of N950 million campaign funds for the Peoples Democratic Party in Kano State.
Shekarau also said his arrest by the EFCC had no political undertone.
The former Kano governor told newsmen in the state yesterday that, “what happened to me could happen to anybody and it was only godly for me to accept my fate, good or bad.’’
He, however, insisted that he was ready to spend the next 10 years in the commission’s custody to prove his innocence. “I am not suspecting any political undertone in my arrest, rather I regard it as an act of God to test my faith. I was told that one of the beneficiaries of the N950 million in question implicated me; that I was given N25 million as my share of the money but could not state where, how and when.’’
Shekarau, who thanked Kano people and other Nigerians for standing by him, said he was not suspecting anybody behind his ordeal.
The former minister was arrested by EFCC last Thursday over alleged sharing of N950 million campaign funds in his house at Mundubawa in Kano metropolis.
He was alleged to have collected N25 million as his own share of the money and consequently quizzed by the commission.
Meanwhile, PDP members in the state met at the weekend to strategise on how to address matters arising from N950 million presidential campaign fund.
The meeting, which took place at Tahir Guest Palace, was attended by the former minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Aminu Wali, Shekarau as well as senator Bello Hayaotu Gwarzo, among others.
Daily Sun gathered that one of the issues discussed at meeting was the sharing of the controversial money among stakeholders and how party leaders tried to find common grounds to face the situation.
Shekarau, again, denied receipt of N25 million out of the N950 million deployed for the 2015 general elections which was shared in his house .
Shekarau, who just regained his freedom from the zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) declared he was ready to appear before any court to defend himself.
He challenged the person who listed his name as a beneficiary to come up with proof and added that he will not refund any money in the absence of any concrete evidence to the effect that he collected said money from the person who has so alleged.