PDP disowns former chair, Ahmadu Ali, over N70m debt

The Peoples Democratic Party has disowned the former director general of its 2015 Presidential Campaign Organisation, Ahmadu Ali, over a N70 million debt.

The party refused to accept liability for a N70 million contract Mr. Ali entered on behalf of the party in the run up to the April 11, 2015 elections.
Documents before an Abuja High Court in Kuje revealed that Mr. Ali, a former National Chairman of the party, had, on behalf of the Jonathan-Sambo campaign organisation, commissioned Silon Concepts Limited, a Lagos-based communications outfit, to undertake the broadcast of promotional campaign messages.
Following a February 3, 2015 proposal, the campaign organisation, through a letter signed by Ahmed Gusau and dated March 5, 2015, commissioned Silon Concept to deploy President (Jonathan’s) voice file to sixty (60) million registered eligible voters.

”In its suit before Justice C.U Ndukwe, Silon Concepts accused the PDP and Mr. Ali as well as the former Minister of Finance, Nenadi Usman, of refusing to pay about N70 million as balance of payment for its services.

Mr. Ali was the Director General of the campaign organisation, while Mrs. Usman, a former Senator, served as the Director of Finance of the campaign organization.
In the application filed by its legal counsel, Festus Keyamo, Silon Concepts urged the court to, among others prayers, compel the defendants to pay the outstanding sum of N70 million for services rendered pursuant to agreed terms of the contract.
In addition, the company demanded the payment of N15 million as legal fees for the suit, apart from an annual interest rate of 10 per cent on the outstanding principal sum until it was is fully liquidated.

At the resumed hearing, a mild drama ensued in court, as PDP lawyers disagreed vehemently with Mrs. Usman over some issues raised in their application. Mr. Ali neither filed a defence nor put up an appearance in court.
Mr. Keyamo said he was committed to pursuing the case to its logical conclusion.
Further hearing in the case was adjourned to September 24, 2015.
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