Leaders of Blue Party, one of the strongest opposition to the ruling coalition Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), are accusing each other over embezzled party properties.
Blue Party chairperson, Yilkal Getnet (Eng.) accused secretariat and administration head, Endeshaw Emishaw, of misappropriation of party properties. Meanwhile, Endeshaw denied the allegation and claimed that he learned of the alleged embezzlement of the party’s property from Yilkal’s team and the party website.
According to Yilkal, though Endeshaw was repeatedly asked to hand over the party’s properties, he failed to respond. He added that Endeshaw was absent from his regular job for six days and was involved in misappropriating party properties.
According to the president, a new committee made up of members of the executive committee of the party has been tasked with following Endeshaw’s case. The committee, along with other members and in the presence of security guards, gained forced entry into Endeshaw’s office to determine if party properties at his disposal were in the office, Yilkal said.
“We were compelled to do this because Endeshaw failed to respond to the committee’s written and phone requests to hand over party properties and come to the office in person”.
Yilkal said that the committee had already informed Endeshaw of the lists of the properties which have disappeared from his office. The controversial properties Endeshaw was accused of absconding with include laptop and desktop computers, a flat-screen television, video cameras, a sound system, an organ and party seals.
Endeshaw, on his part, argues that the actions of Yilkal and other members of the executive committee are highly illegal. He contended that the move was orchestrated intentionally to hide documents and evidence pertaining to an earlier decision to ban the former leadership.
Endashaw also said that Yilkal, along with members of the executive committee, is preparing for the General Assembly meeting of the party scheduled for next week and that is why they decided to break into his office.