Alleged N640M fraud: Labour party demands retraction

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

In the wake of a letter of alleged N640M fraud written by an Abuja based legal firm, Vax Justice Attorney (Aniah A. Ikwien & Associate) directed at the 2023 Gubernatorial candidate of the Labour Party(LP), in Kaduna, Hon Jonathan Asake, the party has demanded a retraction from the legal firm and its client, Engineer Mike Auta.

The State LP Chairman, Hon Awal Aliyu Tafoki, asserted this during a press conference held in Kaduna yesterday.

According to him, the law firm is strange to them, and its client, Engr Mike Auta has never consulted the Party on this matter or on any matter relating to the issue at stake.

The Chairman added that the party leadership is surprised at the demands made which are strange since it was not aware of any such embezzlement as no such complaints or petition has been tendered to them.

Tafoki stressed that the retraction should be done within seven days of the press conference, and should be featured prominently on the social media, print and electronic media and the hard copy served the Party.

“Failure to heed to the above will leave us with no option than to take a legal action to clear the name of the party and seek compensation for damages caused by the said letter.

“A committee will be set up to investigate the real motive behind the letter.

“The committee will also investigate the roles of other players who may be party members in this issue.

“The outcome of the committee will enable us to take necessary action against any of our erring members who may be found wanting by joining us on an issue we are not aware of.

“We want to use this opportunity to reiterate that none of our party members are above the party’s constitution,” he warned.

It would be recalled that the law firm of Messrs Vax Justice Attorney (Aniah A. Ikwien & Associate) had written a letter that went viral on behalf of Engr Mike Auta, accusing Hon. Jonathan Asake of fraud to the tune of N640M claiming that the monies were various donations and contributions meant for the Party to win the 2023 generation elections in the state.

“While we are facing distractions at the national level by saboteurs, our dismay knows no bounds when we saw the letter in the social media space from the aforementioned law firm.

“Having read the highly libelous content of the letter, and especially that the Labour Party was made a partner, after due consultations we deem it expedient and necessary to clear the air on this issue,” Tafoki concluded.