Emmanuel Thomas, Lagos
August 22, 2015 – Former Chairman, Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP), Mr. Dare Falade has been arrested by officials of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) attached to the Nigeria Police Force(NPF).
He was arrested in Lugbe area of Abuja in the early hours of today in a hotel where he has been hibernating. Falade was alleged to have been on the run since he was expelled from the party on allegation of gross misconduct, fraudulent activities and mismanagement of party funds.
He was arrested based on petition written to the Inspector General of Police by MPPP NEC members. We gathered that Acting Chairman of the party, Mr Akanni Olayinka and other members have been on the trail of Dare Falade before the conduct of the last general elections this year.
‘’He has been on the run with the party’s money supposedly to be used to run the party before, during and after election. He single-handed opened an account for himself on behalf of the party, without input from other executives and unilaterally disbursed money at will for his personal gain. In fact the former chairman was absolutely running an exclusive administration contrary to the terms and conditions of his office. In other words, he always failed to carry along other relevant officers of the party in making decision that affects the party”, the MPPP has said.
According to Akanni, the ex-chairman was running a non-responsive administration coupled with acts of financial impropriety to the extent that when an account is to be opened and operated for the party, he flagrantly refused, but rather decided to manage the party funds as if were his personal estate.
He added that Falade acted contrary to constituted authorities and constitution of Nigeria in terms of separation of powers and the flagrant violations of the party’s constitution. Sources at force headquarters in Abuja said the police has commenced detailed investigation into the matter to ascertain his level of culpability in corruption charges leveled against him.
In the petition, Falade was alleged to have misappropriated the sum of N49,000,000.00 meant for the party.
He was alleged to have maintained several bank accounts out of which two major ones were discovered and identified with millions of Naira: specifically one of the teller to a bank indicated a deposit of N4,700,000.00.
An attempt to speak with the ex-chairman of the party proved abortive as he was placed under the police custody in Abuja.
