Alleged N7bn largesse: CAN leaders paid me N1m to keep quiet – Pastor Dikwa, It is a fabrication – CAN President
//Reactions: Godwin Ekosin, Kaduna//
One Pastor Kallamu Ali Dikwa (Church onknown), an indigene of Borno State over the weekend, opened fresh can of worm against the leadership of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) over the controversial N7billion from Jonathan 2015 campaign organization, saying he has been enticed with the sum of N1million to keep quiet.
But in a swift reaction, President, CAN, Dr. Supo Ayokunle said the allegation was a mere fabrication which any matured person should dismissed, quickly added that he has never given any money out to any individual since he assumed office three months ago as CAN President.
He said via a telephone call that, “I don’t know any Dikwa. I have never met any Dikwa in my live. I came on board three months ago and I have never given out any money to any individual. That must be a fabrication.
“He’s not in CAN. This is not the first time he will be making such allegation. He’s looking for people he would get money from. People like me will never do anything like that. I have never see his face though I do read some of his allegations. He’s not somebody of integrity. I’m aware he’s a convert. He’s been sending me text messages but I can never associate with such people”, he said conspicuously. But Dikwa claimed to have been working with CAN since 2004.
It will be recalled that Pastor Dikwa had in 2015 boldly told the world that former President Goodluck Jonathan led federal government gave CAN N7billion to campaign for his failed re-election bid through the then CAN President, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, the development he vehemently opposed.
Briefing newsmen in Kaduna, Pastor Dikwa said he was not out to defame or embarrass anybody, but to let the world know that CAN as body of Christ is not expected to be using that office for their material gains, denying ever lied about the revelation he made as peddled by one Pastor Bosun Emmanuel in a press conference in Abuja on 24th March, 2016.
He said, “if as religious body, CAN cannot stand for truth, then Nigeria will continue to cripple. Let come back and tackle it. Buhari will never succeed in his fight against corruption if religion leaders can’t.
When asked how he got ko know and whether he has any valid proof about the alleged N7bn he said, “I don’t have the documents on how the money was handed offer to CAN, but I have my confidants who were there then and documents on how it was shared. For instance, TEKAN/ECWA was given N50mn.
According to him, “I Pastor Dikwa still maintained my position on the N7bn campaign money that was given to CAN and about nine Toyota Jeeps which were shared and distributed among themselves.
“On the 17th of March 2015, I was forced at the Department of State Security that information I gave about the money was false. I was also forced to write an undertaking that I will refrain from peddling such information.
“This was prior to a letter written by CAN on 20th February, 2015 to DSS on ‘Complaint against Kallamu Musa Ali Dikwa for false information, defamation of character and mischief likely to cause a breach of public peace’ which led to my arrest and tortured for about nine hours by DSS.
“It was after my detention that I wrote to ICPC and EFCC complaining of what I was going through and the need for their necessary actions. EFCC responded to me through through a text message by one Mr Ola Oji, Abuja office in December last year, ‘Please be informed that we have vetted your petition to the commission and found it to be civil. Consequently, we decline investigation into same. You may wish to file an action in Court against the subject please’.
“I went to court to challenge my arrest and torture. While the court case was going on, CAN leadership offered me some monetary enticement in the sum of N1mn in order to withdraw the petition and the matter in court through my bank details. I did that to trap them and to proof the authentication of what is going on.
“It is on record that on 21st of September 2016, CAN through its lawyer, Barr. Samuel Kwamkur text me a piece through my mobile line to copy and write to ICPC as my opinion.
“In my letter to ICPC dated 29th September 2016, Monetary enticement by the leadership of CAN to withdraw my petition against them’, I said ‘Sir, earlier on, concerning the earlier sum of N7bn collected by CAN leadership, the sum of the N50mn was given to TEKAN/ECWA bloc. I did get in touch with ECWA President , Rev J M Gado about some cloudy issues on the N50mn who confirmed to me that it was shared equally between TEKAN and ECWA”, he . added.