Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) authorities
say they are yet aware of alleged seal-off of houses believed to belong to
President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki.
Acting Head, Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr Tony
Orilade, told newsmen in Abuja on Monday that his office was unaware of the
issue.
“I have not been briefed; so, I don’t have any information
on it,” he said.
The alleged sealed property are multiple residential houses
located in highbrow Ikoyi, Lagos.
Saraki had recently come under pressure from the anti-graft
agency.
The EFCC had confirmed reports that it had opened a fresh
investigation into Saraki’s stewardship as President of the Senate as well as a
probe of his earnings as governor of Kwara from 2003 to 2011.
Orilade had in a statement said that EFCC was obligated by
law to enthrone probity and accountability in the governance space and had
supremely pursued this duty without ill-will or malice against anyone.
“It is in the interest of the public, and for Saraki’s
personal good, that he is not only above board, but be seen at all times to be
so.
“Indeed, all the instances in which the EFCC have had cause
to sleuth into his financial activities either as a former governor or
President of the Senate were driven by overarching public interest and due
process of the law,’’ he said.
He added that with “indicting petitions and other evidence
available to EFCC, even Saraki will agree with the Commission that putting him
through a legitimate forensic inquiry is the legitimate route to establish his
integrity as public servant’’.
In his reaction, Saraki insisted that the action of the EFCC
was a witch-hunt.
“Our attention has been drawn to the fact that the EFCC has
marked certain property belonging to President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar
Bukola Saraki, obviously under the claim that they are subject of
investigation.
“The action of the EFCC only reinforced our earlier stated
position that their current investigation is mischievous, contrary to the
tenets of the rule of law and only aimed at settling scores.
“This position is founded on the fact that these same
buildings were the subject of earlier investigations by the EFCC as well as the
case initiated by the Federal Government at the Code of Conduct Tribunal.
“Also, the case went all the way to the highest court in our
country, the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“In that case, Saraki was discharged and acquitted because
the courts believe the government has no case.”
“The EFCC’s move to investigate him is a mere witch-hunt
exercise, aimed at settling scores, laced with malicious and partisan motives,”
Saraki’s Media Adviser, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, said in a statement.
Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everydayAdvertise on NigerianEye.com to reach thousands of our daily users
No comments
Post a Comment
Kindly drop a comment below.
(Comments are moderated. Clean comments will be approved immediately)
Advert Enquires - Reach out to us at NigerianEye@gmail.com