LP Crisis: Youth Leader Gets Six Months Suspension Over Alleged Forgery

The leadership of the Labour Party(LP) has issued a six-month suspension against its National Youth Leader, Anslem Eragbe, following an alleged case of forgery for an illegal donation website.

The party described the alleged forgery case by its national youth leader as an act of insubordination.

The party replaced him a few hours after his suspension with Kennedy Ahanotu as the Acting National Youth Leader of the party.

Naija News however gathered that Eragbe in his letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, trade union leaders and LP National Working Committee described his sanction as illegal.

It is understood that LP’s National Publicity Secretary, Abayomi Arabambi, in a statement accused Anslem of forging the chairman’s signature to execute some unofficial tasks and launching a phoney donation site among other things.

He stated that the need to clarify Eragbe’s ‘alleged misconduct’ claim was because of his denial and innumerable calls received by the secretariat to know his actual ‘sins.’

Arabambi in the statement said, “as requested, some of the offences of the suspended National Youth Leader include: Forging the signature of the National Chairman and National Secretary with which he carried out unofficial assignments.

“He issued certificates to groups unknown to the leadership of the party without the approval of the National Working Committee or the National Chairman.

“He launched a fund mobilisation website to receive funds without the approval of the National Working Committee or the National Chairman and he wrote several letters to some individuals without the approval of the National Working Committee or the National Chairman,” Arabambi added.

Meanwhile, the aggrieved LP youth leader released a disclaimer to debunk the party’s claim, adding that his six months marching order was ‘null and void.’

He said the letter sent to him by the national secretary about his suspension reeks of desperation to harm him and what he represents in the ‘Obedient Movement.’

Eragbe in his counter statement noted that “I will like to make reference to Article 17 (iii) page 31 of the Labour Party Constitutional provision on how a ranking National Working Committee member like me as the National Youth Leader can be removed from office, rather than the shame that Barr. Julius Abure has brought upon Mr Peter Obi and Yusuf Datti and LP generally.

“Fellow Nigerians, let it be noted that the National Executive Council of Labour Party is Not Aware of any report of the disciplinary committee that Barr. Julius Abure illegally acted upon, and neither was 2/3 majority of votes cast by NEC members nor was I, as National Youth Leader in attendance in such an NEC meeting that was not called.

“I definitely will not allow myself to be used as an instrument of distraction and destruction at this critical juncture in our nation’s history.

“Relevant authorities and security agencies in Nigeria shall hold Barr Julius Abure liable for whatever crisis that shall precipitate from this illegal action against me going forward.

“I am prepared to mobilize the youth of our great country to vehemently resist Barr. Julius Abure’s attempt to impose or parade anyone else as the Acting National Youth Leader of the Labour Party.

“The Chairman of EFCC and relevant financial institutions in Nigeria are hereby put on notice to freeze all Labour Party Bank Accounts for immediate investigation as it affects fund mobilization by LP forthwith.

“The position of National Chairman of LP shall henceforth be ceded to Northern Nigeria since the party’s presidential candidate is from Southern Nigeria, while the position of National Secretary shall be ceded to Southern Nigeria,” Eragbe noted.

The national youth leader’s suspension was contained in a letter issued in Abuja by LP National Secretary, Umar Ibrahim.

It read, “You may wish to recall that on the 14th of October, 2022. The National Working Committee of the party met and has among other matters deliberated on the allegations of misconduct labelled against you as the National Youth Leader of the Labour Party. A disciplinary committee was constituted to look into your matter and report to the National Chairman.

“Consequently, the committee has submitted its reports to the National Chairman with its recommendations in accordance with the party’s constitution as Amended (2019).

“In compliance with the party’s constitution, as Amended, (2019) and the committee’s recommendations, you are hereby suspended from your duties as the National Youth Leader of the Labour Party for a period of 6 (six) months, with effect from 18th October 2022. The relevant organs of the party will within the period, meet to ratify the full recommendations of the disciplinary committee.

“You are advised to surrender all party’s documents and materials in your possession to the undersigned,” Ibrahim signed.