The Labour Party of Nigeria is currently facing a significant crisis, with internal conflicts reaching a boiling point over the management of the party’s funds. Ms. Oluchi Oparah, the party’s National Treasurer, has found herself at the center of this storm. After being suspended for six months by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC), led by Comrade Julious Abure, Oparah has taken legal action. On February 15, 2024, she filed a lawsuit in Abuja, demanding the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) investigate Abure and scrutinize the party’s financial dealings.
Oparah’s legal battle, spearheaded by her lawyer, Emeka Etiaba, SAN, focuses on challenging her suspension, which she argues was imposed without a fair hearing. Her court filing, under the case number FHC/ABJ/CS/202/2024, also seeks to address alleged financial misdeeds by Abure, including accusations of forgery, embezzlement, and failure to account for the party’s resources.
Oparah’s affidavit accuses Abure of several serious offenses, including forgery, embezzlement, and abuse of office, starting from his assumption as Acting National Chairman in January 2021. She specifically alleges that Abure forged the signature of the late Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, his predecessor, to withdraw significant sums from the party’s account, citing a particular instance where N14 million was deposited and then depleted under dubious circumstances.
The saga unveils a larger picture of alleged financial mismanagement, with Oparah claiming that about N3 billion raised from the sale of nomination forms for the 2023 elections, along with donations, remain largely unaccounted for. She further alleges that funds raised during off-cycle elections in various states, totaling approximately N958 million, were misappropriated by Abure without proper documentation or approval from the NWC.
Oparah’s narrative describes a pattern of unilateral financial decisions by Abure, including the diversion of funds to personal accounts and the investment of ill-gotten wealth into properties worth billions of Naira across Nigeria and abroad. This rapid accumulation of assets starkly contrasts Abure’s financial status before taking office, raising questions about the source of this newfound wealth.
Amid these allegations, another twist has emerged from Mrs. Maria Labara, a former Acting National Chairman, who refutes claims of her involvement in the controversial financial transactions. In a recent interview with Arise Television, Labara denied signing any cheques during the period in question and accused Abure of forging her signature to facilitate these transactions.
This unfolding drama has cast a shadow over the Labour Party, threatening its credibility and the faith of its members and supporters. As the legal proceedings move forward and the EFCC begins its investigation, the party finds itself at a crossroads. The coming weeks and months will be critical in determining whether the party can overcome its current challenges and emerge stronger or if it will be irreparably damaged by the allegations and conflicts that have come to light.
