Abuja: The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Friday inaugurated a five-person committee to investigate the suspended National Chairman of the party, Shehu Gabam, and two other national officers.
The trio was suspended by the party over alleged financial misconduct.
Abubakar Liman chairs the investigative committee, while Adelewa Williams is to serve as secretary.
The acting National Chairman of the Party, Dr Sadiq Gombe, inaugurated the committee at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.
He said that the committee has 14 days to conduct the investigation and report back to the party.
He said that the exercise was not meant to be a witch hunt.
Gombe stated that the exercise was intended to cleanse and reposition the SDP for the significant role it must play in the upcoming elections and the country’s future.
The NWC had announced on Tuesday the suspension of Gabam as national chairman, Nze Clarkson as National Auditor, and Uchechukwu Chukwuma as National Youth Leader.
The party had alleged that the trio were involved in gross financial misconduct, including funds generated from the 2023 general elections.
Gabam had earlier described financial allegations against him as false, saying he had nothing to hide.
However, Gombe, in his remarks, urged the committee members to carry out their responsibilities with an utmost sense of duty, transparency, and fairness, without fear or favour.
He also advised the committee to show decorum, dignity, and decency to the persons who appeared before them and to one another.
“It is paramount to begin on the constitutional presumption that those accused of any wrongdoing before you are innocent, until the contrary is proved.
“Let the law, good conscience, and equity be your guiding principles, not political considerations.
“Let the truth be your anchor. Obey the rule of law and observe natural justice, which means that no one can be a judge in their case, and you must hear both sides thoroughly before coming to a finding.
“In discharging your duties, we implore you to be just and impartial. Let your findings speak for themselves,” he said.
In his remarks, the party’s National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye, stated that the committee was tasked with investigating Gabam and others for alleged gross financial misappropriation and diversions of SDP funds, estimated to be more than N1 billion.
Agunloye said that the committee would also investigate the alleged submission of “fraudulent audited financial reports” with several abnormalities to INEC by Gabam without the knowledge of the NWC members.
He alleged that upon reviewing SDP financial bank statements from First Bank of Nigeria and Zenith Bank PLC, the NWC noted multiple breaches of the SDP 2022 Constitution, as amended, especially Articles 13, 17, and 19.
He further alleged that there were no presentations or submissions of any incomes or expenditures to NWC from 2022 to 2025. Still, only three members out of the 12 NWC members were aware of any details regarding the party’s income and spending.
He stated that NWC observed that no due processes or internal audit procedures were followed in the disbursement of N100 million of SDP funds.
According to Agunloye, the Terms of Reference of the committee were to investigate the truth regarding the allegations of breaches of the SDP constitution.
“Examine the state of the accounts of the SDP. Determine the circumstances surrounding the production and submission of the audited accounts submitted to INEC in the name of the SDP.
“Recommend appropriate remedies and generally, advice on better ways to manage the finances of the SDP to prevent abuse and breach of our constitution,” he said.
He noted that the suspension of the three officers had been communicated to INEC, Inter-Party Advisory Council, Nigeria Police Force, Department of State Services, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
The SDP National Labour and Civil Society Secretary, Mrs Rosemary Effiong, stated that the suspension was unrelated to the coalition of political parties.
She alleged that only Gabam receives alerts on the party’s bank transactions, while the party’s national treasurer had also raised alarm about her signature being forged to withdraw money.
Effiong also said that since she joined the party’s NWC, the committee had never discussed the party’s financial status.
Also, the SDP National Welfare Secretary, Judith Shuaibu, said it was not that the NWC had been manipulated or quiet for long over the development in the party leadership.
Shuaibu stated that the NWC had explored all internal mechanisms to resolve the issue before suspending Gabam.
