LP Crisis Worsens As NLC Hits Back At Abure After He Accused Members Of Stealing Party’s Money

The Acting Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Political Commission, Professor Theophilus Udubuaku, has refuted allegations that the union stole funds meant for workers’ salaries at the Labour Party (LP) National Headquarters.

This rebuttal comes in response to accusations made by the LP National Chairman, Julius Abure, who claimed that the Joe Ajaero-led NLC, along with their supporters, stole money intended for staff salaries and other valuables during Wednesday’s altercation at the party’s national secretariat.

In a statement released through the party’s National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, Abure asserted, “NLC under Joe Ajaero is not above the law, and the law prohibits Ajaero and the leadership of NLC from taking the law into their hands, as they besieged the office, broke the fence, destroyed the gates, unlawfully took possession of the secretariat, and destroyed properties worth millions of naira… Properties stolen, including monies, made for the payment of salaries and other official purposes. This is unfortunate. It is becoming unbecoming.”

In response, Udubuaku dismissed the allegations, emphasizing that the protest at the party’s secretariat was conducted in the presence of security personnel.

He stated, “Abure should be reminded, since he is now suffering from selective amnesia, that it took the picketing by Ajaero-led NLC to drive Lamidi Apapa away from the LP headquarters before he moved in… Talking about lies, it speaks much about who Abure really is when he claims that billions of naira were stolen when the picketing was conducted in the presence of scores of policemen, DSS officers, and pressmen.”

”These lies alone define Abure as a man who is grossly irresponsible… We would like the Nigerian media to appreciate the fact that NLC is not interested in a media war with a man who thinks he can successfully transform himself into a sole administrator of LP… The press is expected to do its duty and fact-check the comments from Abure and his men and call them out as liars.”