A certain unnamed national officer of the opposition Peoples Democratic party, PDP is reported to be behind threats to petition the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC against some ministers and aides to former President Goodluck Jonathan on alleged loots if they did not pay him to shut up, Nigerian Tribune reported
According to Tribune on Sunday, some officials of the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan are being targeted by fraudsters who are demanding for money with threats to write petition against them to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly participating in the looting of the nation's treasury.
The victims of the blackmail are now crying out in an attempt to draw the attention of the public and security agencies to the activities of the individuals who they believe are being sponsored by their political rivals.
The fraudsters are said to be working under the assumption that once they write petition to the EFCC, the commission would go after the former aides who they think are keen to avoid any encountered with anti-graft body that is presently engaged in loot-recovery process.
The Nigerian Tribune learnt that those involved appear to have been elements of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who claim that they have information on the sleazy transactions allegedly perpetrated by former aides in while in office.
A top PDP member who asked not to be named, confirmed over the weekend that at least four prominent officials of the former administration including one former minister are known have been approached but it is not clear whether any of them has succumbed to the threats.
The source also noted that the fraudsters activities may not be unconnected with the forthcoming national convention of the PDP and the effort to gain advantage for future political positions.
A PDP deputy national officer (names withheld) has been fingered as the brain behind the plot to tarnish the reputation of the party chieftains.
"They are trying to blackmail us because they think we have stolen money and we are afraid of going to EFCC but it is pure politics that will not achieve anything," a PDP chieftain told the Nigerian Tribune on phone at the weekend.
The source said he did not directly obtain money from the past administration either by cash or bank transfer into his account and therefore he has nothing to fear.
Among those they have contacted for money with threat of petition is former Special Adviser to the president on Political Matters, Prof. Rufai Alkali, who is believed to be nursing an ambition to become the Gombe State governor in 2019.
A source close to the former National Publicity Secretary of the PDP confirmed that he had been approached by certain people threatening to expose him to the EFCC if he does not give them an unspecified amount of money.
But the source alleged that the extortionists were recruited by an unnamed top politician who has quartered them in a hotel in Abuja and has been funding their activities.
Alkali was the National Coordinator of the defunct Goodluck Support Group (GSG) which drummed up support for the re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan.
According to the source, "once they believe that you are a threat to their ambition, they become jittery and devise all sorts of means to tarnish you.
"The national convention is around the corner. In order to pave way for themselves or their favoured candidates, they have to do something to checkmate you.
"But we are not going to wait until they drag us into the mud. We will fight back," the source declared without saying how.
When contacted Alkali declined comment.
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