EFCC interrogates Saraki on fresh corruption allegations

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Saturday quizzed a former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over fresh corruption allegations bordering on theft and money laundering.

A senior official at the commission said Saraki was not arrested by the anti-graft agency but he was invited during the week to report at the EFCC headquarters in order to answer some questions.

The source explained that the former Senate President pleaded with the commission formally that he would honour the invitation on Saturday when he’s in nation’s capital, Abuja, for a wedding ceremony.

According to him, Saraki was to answer questions over alleged theft and laundering of public funds using a network of cronies and proxy companies.

Another official, who confirmed Saraki’s interaction with the operatives of the commission, said Saraki was not actually the target of the fresh probe but a former governor in Kwara State, Abdul-Fatah Ahmed who is his ally.

”No, the commission is not originally probing Saraki. We’re are investigating former governor Ahmed and the investigation necessitates that we invite him (Saraki) in order to shed more lights on some issues,” the source said.

He added that Ahmed, while he was governor and other cronies to Saraki ‘executed’ some contracts for him in Kwara State.

Daily Trust reports that Saraki, who was the Senate President between 2015 and 2019, spent not less than three years facing allegations of corruption and false declaration of assets. He was acquitted by the Supreme Court in June 2018.

The spokesman of the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwujaren could not be reached by Daily Trust.

But he told the News Agency of Nigeria that Saraki was in the custody of the commission for continuation of interrogation.

The invitation and detention of Saraki for interrogation was happening days after a former Nasarawa State Gov. Tanko Al-Makura and his wife, Mairo, were invited and interrogated.

The commission had invited Al-Makura and the wife over alleged breach of public trust and misappropriation of billions of naira by his administration.