The Secretary General of the Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Chief Sola Ebiseni, has called on the factional National Publicity Secretary of the Labour Party, Abayomi Arabambi, to provide the account details that allegedly received the diverted N600m campaign fund, which Arabambi claimed were linked to Afenifere.
Earlier, Arabambi had called on the National Security Adviser and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate some members of the party and leaders of Afenifere for alleged misappropriation of funds from the Labour Party’s 2023 presidential campaign.
He accused Ebiseni and the Director General of the Labour Party presidential campaign council, Akin Osuntokun, and others of being involved in financial infractions totalling over N600m, which they allegedly kept in private and Afenifere accounts.
He urged a thorough investigation into the accounts linked to Adebanjo, Osuntokun, and Ebiseni to determine the extent of Afenifere’s involvement in the alleged fraud.
“The trio of Pa Ayo Adebanjo, Akin Osuntokun, and Sola Ebiseni were involved in financial infractions totalling over N600m, which they have kept in private and Afenifere accounts,” he said.
Reacting to the accusation, Ebiseni said the accusation should be disregarded, describing it as “junk”.
He explained that if Arabambi had made such a serious criminal allegation, he should be able to provide specific details of the bank accounts.
He said, “He didn’t mention the accounts? Just leave it at that because I am the secretary general of Afenifere, and we can’t be responding to every piece of junk. If he said that, he should have given the details of the accounts, and I dare him to speak.
“I am not in a position to answer, and I’m sure that will never happen. Arabambi is not my problem. So, if he makes such a criminal allegation, he should know how to pursue it.”
Asked whether there were any plans to take legal action against Arabambi concerning the accusation, Ebiseni added, “I can’t be trading words with him in the newspapers. That’s junk. I have told you that one should not respond to every piece of junk. When it is necessary for us to take action, you will be the first person to report it.”
On his part, Osuntokun disowned Arabambi, saying he was one of the individuals spreading propaganda and causing instability in the party.
He insisted on remaining silent, saying he would prefer not to engage with “those rascals”.
According to him, Arabambi’s allegations are illogical, because a non-member cannot access any of the party’s accounts, let alone know how much money is in them.
Osuntokun urged Arabambi to disclose the account numbers from which the alleged funds were transferred.