The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Friday inaugurated a five-man committee to investigate the party’s suspended National Chairman, Shehu Gabam and two other national officers.

The trio were suspended by the party over alleged financial misconduct.

The committee is chaired by Abubakar Liman, while Adelewa Williams is to serve as secretary.

The party’s acting National Chairman, Dr Sadiq Gombe inaugurated the committee at the party’s headquarters in Abuja.

He said that the committee has 14 days to conduct the probe and report back to the party.

He said that the exercise was not meant to witch-hunt anyone.

Mr Gombe said that the exercise was rather to cleanse and reposition SDP for the immense role it must play in the up-coming elections and in the political future of the country.

The NWC on Tuesday announced the suspension of Mr Gabam as the national chairman, Nze Clarkson as National Auditor and Uchechukwu Chukwuma as National Youth Leader.

The party stated that the trio were involved in gross financial misconduct, involving funds generated from the 2023 general elections.

Mr Gabam had earlier described the allegation against him as false, saying he had nothing to hide

However, Mr Gombe urged the committee members to carry out the responsibility with utmost sense of duty, transparency and fairness without fear or favour.

He also advised the committee to show decorum, dignity and decency to the persons who appeared before them and to one another.

He added. “It is paramount to begin on the constitutional presumption that those accused of any wrongdoing before you are innocent, until the contrary is proved. Let the law, good conscience and equity be your guiding principles not political considerations.

“Let the truth be your anchor. Obey the rule of law and observe natural justice which essentially means that no one can be a judge in his own case, and you must hear both sides thoroughly before coming to a finding. In discharging your duties, we implore you to be just and impartial. Let your findings speak for themselves.’’

In his remarks, the party National Secretary, Dr Olu Agunloye, said that the committee was to investigate Mr Gabam and others over alleged gross financial misappropriation and diversions of SDP funds estimated at more than N1 billion.

Mr Agunloye said that the committee would also investigate alleged submission of “fraudulent audited financial reports” with several abnormalities to INEC by Mr Gabam without the knowledge of the NWC members.

He alleged that upon observations into SDP financial bank statements from First Bank of Nigeria and Zenith Bank PLC, the NWC noted multiple breaches of the SDP 2022 Constitution as amended, especially Articles 13, 17 and 19.

He further alleged that there were no presentations or submissions of any incomes or expenditures to NWC from 2022 to 2025, but only three members out of 12 NWC members were aware of any details of the party’s incomes and expenditures.

He said that NWC observed that there were no due processes or internal audit procedures following the disbursement of N100 million of SDP funds.

The Terms of Reference of the committee according to Mr Agunloye included: fact-finding the truth regarding the allegations of breaches of the SDP constitution. Examine the state of the accounts of the SDP. Determine the circumstances surrounding the production and submission of audited accounts submitted to INEC in the name of the SDP. Recommend appropriate remedies and generally, advice on better ways to manage the finances of the SDP to prevent abuse and breach of our constitution.’’

He noted that the suspension of the three officers had been communicated to INEC; Inter Party Advisory Council, Nigeria Police Force, State Security Service and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

The SDP National Labour and Civil Society Secretary, Rosemary Effiong, said that the suspension had nothing to do with the coalition of political parties.

She alleged that only Mr Gabam received alerts on the party’s bank transactions, while the party national treasurer had also raised the alarm of her signature being forged to withdraw money.

Ms Effiong also said that since she joined the party’s NWC, the committee had never discussed the party’s financial status.

Also, the SDP National Welfare Secretary, Judith Shuaibu, said it was not that the NWC was manipulated or quiet over the development in the party leadership.

Mr Shuaibu said that the NWC explored all the internal mechanism to resolve the issue before Mr Gabam’s suspension.

(NAN)