EX- PDP NATIONAL CHAIRMAN SURRENDERS 23 STATE OF THE ART CARS TO EFCC FOR FREEDOM

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Deputy National Chairman Uche Secondus has offered to return the 23 luxury cars he got from a business associate of the former Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

But the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) asked Secondus to refund to the Federal Government N310 million, being the worth of the vehicles.Secondus may however remain in detention for a while because the anti-graft agency is still probing his relationship with an oil baron.There were indications yesterday that the screening of Secondus’ financial transactions might provide more clues beyond the 23 vehicles.Secondus was quizzed for hours yesterday by EFCC operatives.A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Secondus is still under interrogation because there are fresh clues we are looking into on how diverted oil receipts from the oil magnate were used for logistics for the PDP.“The Deputy National Chairman of PDP has admitted that he collected the 23 vehicles from the oil baron.“At a point during the interrogation, Secondus voluntarily offered to return all the vehicles to EFCC. He said he was willing to retrieve the vehicles from the beneficiaries.”Responding to a question, the source added: “The EFCC has asked Secondus to refund N310million cash being the worth of the vehicles.“We are actually not interested in the vehicles, as the value would have depreciated. Oil revenue was used to buy these vehicles and we are demanding nothing but the N310million.“It is left to the suspect to cooperate with our team.”There were indications last night that Secondus might remain in detention for a while, pending the conclusion of investigation into his activities with the oil baron.“We will keep Secondus in safe custody. Apart from making refunds, there are other clues we have which require more interaction with him,” the source said.Asked if Secondus might face trial, the source said: “It is not impossible but investigation is yet to be completed.”The vehicles bazaar has created shocks in PDP because most leaders of the party were unaware.A member of the National Working Committee (NWC) said some of the party’s leading lights were just hearing for the first time that vehicles were given to the party by an oil baron. “The revelation is shocking,” he said, adding:“The way some leaders of the party hijacked the campaign machinery is baffling. At least, some of us did not get from these vehicles”.