By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Senator Victor Umeh has provided details of allegations of fraud against Victor Oye which led to his opposition to Oye retaining his job as All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) National Chairman.
A copy of the email Umeh sent to Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, which is available to TheNiche, recalled how he had earlier advised Obiano not to support Oye for a second term in office to avoid further damage.
“I believe that it will be futile and damaging to APGA if you continue to support him for a second term in office.
“I advise that you confront Oye with these revelations and consider asking him to refund these monies to them and bow out and save APGA from protracted crisis!” Umeh urged Obiano in the email dated May 30, 2019.
He said he was “constrained by circumstances” to write the mail to Obiano on the activities of Oye “which I have a responsibility to bring to your attention.”
Umeh, a former National Chairman of APGA recounted that for about two weeks in May, some people from Imo State had told him of allegations that Oye extorted money from them during the APGA Imo primaries in the last general election.
They told me, Umeh added, “with a request that I pass [the allegations] to you to direct Oye to return their monies to them over unkept transaction promises.”
He said at his request, the complainants furnished him with the details of the transactions, which he in turn would forward to Obiano with the narratives and documents “for … you [to] go through [them] and form your opinion.”
The edited version of the email Umeh sent to Obiano on the allegations and those who made them reads:
- Okey Ezeh
From Ezeh’s account, Oye with Chinedu Obidigwe negotiated and took from him N273.25 million in return for the Imo State APGA governorship ticket in the 2019 general election.
When this arrangement failed, Oye refunded him $100,000 made of two installments of $50,000 each, leaving a balance of N237.25 million.
Regrettably, Oye told Eze that I, Umeh, and Archbishop Valerian Okeke were responsible for his inability to honour their agreement.
I will forward his written petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and some of the bank transactions with Oye and also bring it to the attention of Okere.
- Stanley Amuchie
Amuchie until he resigned to join the APGA gubernatorial race in Imo State was the Chief Operating Officer of Zenith Bank.
His written statement alleged that Oye and Obidigwe negotiated with him and received N280 million in return for Imo State APGA governorship ticket in the 2019 general election.
The money was allegedly given as follows:
Oye – N250 million paid in $694,400.
Obidigwe – N30 million paid in $83,333 leaving a balance of N20 million to be paid to him upon completion of the primaries.
- Ikedi Ohakim
Ohakim alleged that Oye collected $300,000 and N100 million and other payments from him. His detailed account is contained in his petition to the EFCC.
The petition is also forwarded to you.
- Humphrey Anumudu
Anumudu alleged that Oye obtained a 2018 Toyota Landcruiser black jeep from him under false pretense. This is aside from other dollar cash receipts which he is ready to forgo.
He is already in a Lagos State High Court with Oye and his wife claiming N50 million being the value of the car where Oye claimed that the car is a birthday gift from Anumudu. This matter is also reported to the EFCC.
Said Umeh: “These are just four outstanding cases. There are other tales!
“I see these as very serious moral issues particularly as Oye has consistently insisted that he did not take money from anybody during the 2018 primaries.
“I consider these revelations as serious embarrassment to the party and gross abuse of office by Oye.
“One unfortunate thing was that they engaged these fellows by dropping your name as supporting their actions.
“Some of these were part of the reasons why I told you on April 28, 2019 that Oye is unfit to continue in office as National Chairman of APGA.”
