Presidency now a den of thieves , fraudsters —PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Thursday described the presidency under President Muhammadu Buhari as a den of thieves.

The party claimed that the “arrest of yet another scammer linked with the Presidency further confirmed the administration had become “a den of thieves” and “breeds and facilitate swindlers and treasury looters.”

The party was reacting to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC)’s arrest of Illyasu, an alleged fraudster operating within the precincts of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Illyasu, who was said to be operating from an office opposite the Presidential Banquet Hall, where he carried out his scams, had swindled many people including the Managing Director of Galaxy Investment, Babagana Abba Dalori, who he reportedly swindled of N500 million.

In a statement issued on Thursday by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, the PDP said it was a “shocking fact that the scammer, Abdulrauf Illyasu, even enjoys an office accommodation within the safety and cover of the Presidential Villa.”

The party said the development was evidence that the “Buhari Presidency breeds and facilitates swindlers, charlatans and treasury looters.”

The PDP, however, noted that nothing was impossible for a Presidency replete with persons who “thrive in lies, false claims, certificate forgery, bribery, intimidation and recruiting of fraudulent and corrupt persons as ministers, special advisers and clandestine fronts for financial sleazes.”

It added, “Our party holds that it is the height of deceit and duplicity that an administration that boasts of integrity and zero tolerance for corruption could be the very sanctuary of the underworld.

“Only last week, a known confidant of Mr. President, Nasir Danu, was arrested at Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom, for alleged international passport scam and money laundering while allegedly ferrying stolen currencies for persons said to be close to the Presidency.

“This is in addition to further allegations that Danu has been fronting for a close relation of the President for shady oil deals and huge contracts running into billions of naira in major revenue-earning agencies.”

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The party then called on Nigerians to note how the Illyasu and Danu matters “remind of the case of the former aide to the First Lady, Mr. Baba-Inna,” who was earlier arrested for allegedly receiving billions of naira from politicians and businessmen allegedly on behalf of the First Lady.

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