In a statement yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, the party said “we are completely against any one-sided public trial and mob conviction of accused persons without following the agelong and worldwide legal process wherein accused persons were presumed innocent until the contrary is lawfully proved.
“We do not believe that mere investigation confers a guilt verdict on those concerned and the government should stop the brutal mob and public conviction of individuals and the transfer of the burden of proof of people being investigated”.
The party challenged the Federal Government to set up a National Truth Commission “where politicians and other Nigerians publicly discuss the true meaning of corrupt practice in our land”.
The party observed that the corruption investigation was targeted at only those opposed to President Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
“In fact, until top officials of the former government open up on the exact source of the funding, it remains premature to be accusing our party members of corrupt practices”, the statement added.
The party said if indeed the government’s investigation included the expenditure of former President Goodluck Jonathan’s security votes from 2011, then the investigation should be extended to 1984.
According the PDP, the investigation should be extended to the security votes of past Presidents and Heads of State from 1984; the award of contracts by the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) from 1993 to 1999.
The party called for investigation into expenditure of military purchases and expenditure during the Bakassi wars; the fight against militancy in the Niger Delta; military interventions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Somalia, Rwanda, among others.
The PDP also demanded investigation into sources of funding for its 2015 presidential campaigns and that of the APC.
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