The former national treasurer of the Labour Party, Oluchi Opara, has raised alarm over an alleged misappropriation of N3.5 billion by Barrister Julius Abure, the party’s former acting chairman.
The money was generated during the 2023 elections.
She accused Abure of misusing the party’s funds and abusing his power, including forging the late national chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam’s signature to make unauthorised withdrawals.
She said Abure should have allowed an auditor to audit the Labour Party‘s account rather than campaigning to discredit Peter Obi, the party’s 2023 presidential flag bearer.
Mrs Opara condemned Abure’s action, calling him ungrateful for wanting to smear Peter Obi, whom she described as a political icon.
“Abure has refused to do the needful. Instead, he is trying to do a campaign against the man, Mr. Peter Obi, who gave him life.
“Before now, there was no Abure, Labour Party was nowhere. It is an act of ingratitude on his side for him to come out and damage the image of a political icon known to the world, not only Nigeria.
“Abure should not divert attention; instead, he should come out and clear the allegations on his head”, she said.
She refuted Abure’s claim that there was no campaign account for the Labour Party.
When asked if she had seen any irregularities during her time as the party’s national treasurer, she said, “The signature of the late Party Chairman was forged two months after his death. Two months after his death, monies were cleared by Julius Abure.
“Abure never bothered about what the late chairman’s family was going through at that time.
“At the time I came out, Abure was transferring money to his wife and brother, John Abure’s personal account and to his company’s account.
She said he was using staff accounts to siphon money, and the staff, in turn, would pay the money to different accounts owned by Abure.
Watch the full interview below:
