Dasukigate Funds: Ladoja Received N100M From Anenih

former Governor Rashid Ladoja of Oyo State reportedly received N100 million from Tony Anenih, ex-chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), according to recent revelations in which more than $2 billion of defense funds were diverted to political purposes. Mr. Ladoja's Accord Party, which backed former President Goodluck Jonathan in his failed reelection bid, has acknowledged that the former governor received the funds. Investigators believe that the funds, handed over by Mr. Anenih, were part of more than $2 billion that Mr. Dasuki distributed to a number of high-profile political figures. 

Anthony Anenih, former Chairman of the PDP Board of TrusteesState House Photo

Accord Party was one of several small political parties that chose not to field a candidate in the 2015 presidential election. Instead, the party endorsed Mr. Jonathan, who was handily beaten in the March 28, 2015. The N100 million received by Mr. Ladoja was meant to smooth the way for the Accord Party's support.

In a letter titled "Release of One Hundred Million by Chief Tony Anenih,” a representative of the Accord Party told Ibrahim Magu, the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), about the circumstances surrounding the funds. Signed by one "Hon. Adisa," the January 8, 2016 letter drew attention "to a newspaper report that the sum of One Hundred Million Naira was released to the Accord [Party] leader, Senator Rashidi Ladoja by Chief Tony Anenih, the (former) chairman BoT of the PDP."

The letter continued: "We confirm that the sum of One Hundred Million Naira was given to the Party through our leader after [a] series of meetings between the leadership of Accord and Chief Tony Anenih in preparation for the 2015 general elections. The following issues were discussed at the meetings: the need to support the presidential candidate of the PDP since ACCORD had no presidential candidate; the need to ensure that peace was maintained to enhance peaceful movement during periods of campaign, elections and after the elections; the need for the PDP to support ACCORD campaign effort."

The Accord Party spokesman revealed that the N100 million Mr. Anenih released to former Governor Ladoja was meant to serve the purposes agreed on by the two political parties.