The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday set up a committee to probe the source of leakage to the media of  N10 billion allegedly missing from its coffers.

The money was said to be proceeds of sale of nomination forms for 2023 general elections.

This was contained in a statement by the spokesman for the PDP, Debo Ologunagba.

Part of the money was allegedly paid to members of the National Working Committee (NWC) as “housing allowance”.

Four of the NWC members had returned their own share of the money, totaling N122.4 million, to the party’s bank account.

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They had expressed doubts over the propriety of the funds that were deposited into their bank accounts.

Those who returned their share of the money were the Deputy National Chairman (South), Taofeek Arapaja; National Vice Chairman (South-South), Chief Dan Orbih; National Women Leader, Prof. Stella Affah-Attoe; and National Vice Chairman (Southwest), Olusoji Adagunodo.

Arapaja returned N36 million of the said money transfered into his bank account, while Orbih, Effah-Attoe and Adagunodo got N28.8 million each.

In separate letters addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu, the four party chiefs stated their reservations about what the money was meant for.

Ologunagba said: “The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at its meeting on Tuesday, October 4, 2022 thoroughly examined the strange publication by a particular newspaper which reported that the Housing Allowance legally paid by the party to its national officers was bribe.

“After a thorough scrutiny of the payment by the party, the NWC in session established that the payment was not a bribe but housing allowance duly approved and paid to national officers of the party in line with the Conditions of Service and Entitlement of the Staff and Principal Officers of the Party.”