The Anambra State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party has asked the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to investigate the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Olisa Metuh, and other leaders of the PDP for alleged embezzlement and fraud.

The PDP in Anambra, in a petition dated July 15, 2015, a copy of which was obtained by our reporter, urged the anti-graft agency to treat the matter urgently.

The Administrative Secretary of Anambra PDP, Mr. Casmir Ajulu, who signed the 62-page petition, also alleged that some acting members of the state executive had continued to run the party’s account after their resignation.

He further alleged that illegal withdrawals were made from the party’s account within the period.

The petition was titled, ‘Complaint against Olisa Metuh (PDP National Publicity Secretary), PETTERSON Nig. Ltd., Chief Emma Nweze, Chief Chuba Egolum and Mr. Mako, Branch Manager (of) UBA Nig. Plc Awka Express 2, over embezzlement, obtaining by tricks, defrauding PDP members in Anambra State, illegal and unauthorised withdrawal of over seventy million naira (N70,000,000) and charging of five naira (N5) per thousand from the PDP Account No. 1002058662 (Formerly Account No. 0315031000164) with the UBA Awka Express Branch 2.’

Ajulu asked EFCC to investigate Metuh, the firm and officials of the bank for alleged “embezzlement, obtaining by tricks, defrauding PDP members in Anambra state, illegal and unauthorised withdrawal of over N70m from the PDP account.”

The PDP scribe also asked the EFCC to probe the whereabouts of the party’s cheques with nos. 2339610, 2339611, 2339612, 2339617, 2339618 and 2339620, “and what has become of them.”

The petitioner added, “Investigate the directors of PETTERSON Nig. Ltd. and other deposits to the company’s account by Chief Chuba Egolum, Chief Emma Nweze, Chief Olisa Metuh and any other person within the period under review and the source of the money.

“Investigate any other person that may have been involved in the fraud within the period under review.

“Recover all stolen funds belonging to the Anambra State chapter of the PDP and prosecute any person(s) and company found culpable.”

Ajulu, who called for urgent investigation of the alleged fraud, urged the anti-corruption agency to take necessary actions, stating that he was ready to appear before the commission during its investigation “to prove my complaints beyond reasonable doubts.”

Efforts to get Metuh for his reaction to the allegation were not successful as his telephone line was off for days.

However, his Media Assistant, Mr. Richard Ihediwa, on Saturday, dismissed the allegation as laughable when contacted.

His text message to our correspondent read, “This allegation is childish and laughable. The national publicity secretary is out of the country. However, his position is that the EFCC must investigate this particular matter and the investigation must be in the open. We also expect The PUNCH Newspapers to publish the outcome of the investigation.”