The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has reiterated its resolve to prosecute the immediate past President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
A statement issued by the spokesman for the commission, Tony Orilade, on Sunday in Abuja, said no amount of media campaign against its Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Magu would stop the prosecution.
Orilade said the attention of the commission had been drawn to the false claim made by Saraki, currently facing investigation.
He stressed that the investigation into Saraki’s past stewardship was not personal.
The statement read in part: “He seems to have chosen outside the shores of Nigeria as the launch pad of his campaign of calumny against the EFCC and its leadership.
“We wish to state without any contradiction that the ongoing investigation against the former Senate President and other Politically-exposed Persons (PeP) are on course, while Saraki and his co travellers will surely have their day in court shortly.
“Particularly, of reference is the report published in the Punch Newspaper of Sunday, June 30, 2019 entitled, “Magu begged me to help his confirmation by the Senate, Saraki tells CJ Kafarati.”
“Saraki deviously chose to divert attention from the weighty allegations of financial fraud trailing his eight years stewardship in Kwara and leadership of the senate.
“Instead, he is coming up with mendacious reasons on why the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court should ignore the request of the EFCC, seeking the transfer of its cases from Justice Taiwo Taiwo who curiously granted ex-parte order to restrain the commission from performing its statutory duties.”
Meanwhile, Orilade disclosed that the EFCC had filed a comprehensive response against the judge’s restraining order.
He contended that it was absurd for Saraki to raise issues on what happened during the confirmation of EFCC boss in 2016 when he was no longer in charge of the senate in 2019.
His words; “It is too late for him in the day, to be claiming innocence over the confirmation saga when every Nigerian knew what transpired under his watch.
“The Commission under Magu has moved on and will not be distracted over mundane issues.
“Let it be stated in unequivocal terms that the investigation of Saraki’s stewardship, whether as a former president of the senate or as a former governor of Kwara, has absolutely nothing to do with the non-confirmation of Mr. Ibrahim Magu as the substantive Chairman of the EFCC.
“While the EFCC will not allow itself to be drawn by Saraki to take up issues with him on the pages of newspapers, it is pertinent to once again state in clear terms that the probes being carried out by the EFCC are nothing personal.
“They are all about enthroning probity in governance, and letting leaders know that even out of office, they will be held accountable for their stewardship.
“Again, it is worth reminding Saraki that he has no need to be scared of the EFCC and its leadership as long as he believes he has a clear conscience.”