A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, on Wednesday, explained how the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, detained him in Abuja after visiting the organisation on his own volition.
Anyim made this explanation in a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Sam Nwaobasi, and made available to Daily Trust.
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The former Senate President was at the anti-graft office last Sunday to answer some questions.
He however said he was not under any investigation on a case of alleged corruption and diversion of public funds as being reported.
The Peoples Democratic Party’s Chieftain said he was, however, surprised that after his engagement with the EFCC officers, he was not allowed to return home.
The former Senate President explained that he went to the EFCC’s office in Abuja on his own volition to clear his name on some issue before the Commission.
According to the statement, “Anyim who was also a former Secretary to the Federal Government went to the commission to clear his name which was mentioned by someone under investigation by the anti-graft agency.
“So, Anyim had been inundated with inquiries from friends, associates, PDP faithful and the general public.
“These were with regards to media reports that he was invited and detained ‘as part of an investigation in a case of alleged corruption and diversion of public funds.’
“It has, therefore, become necessary to put the records straight on what went on between Sunday, 24, to Tuesday, 26 of October.
“Senator Anyim got information that some person invited by the EFCC in connection with some matter it was investigating mentioned his name in the statement made to the EFCC.
“Determined, as always, to ensure that the truth prevails, Senator Anyim reached out to the officer handling the matter and offered, of his own volition, to come over to the EFCC to clarify any issues around which his name was mentioned.
“The officer was delighted and they agreed to meet in his office at the EFCC by 3pm, on Sunday, October 24.
“After his engagement, during which Senator Anyim was as candid as could be, to his utter surprise, he was told he would not be going home that day.
“By the next day, the EFCC gave the conditions for his release, which were met promptly.
“It took up to Tuesday, 26, for EFCC to complete their processes after which he was allowed to go home.”