EFCC summons Saraki over fraud allegations

Senator Bukola Saraki

The Senator is currently in Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday, summoned former governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki, over corruption allegations.

Mr. Saraki had been accused of graft worth hundreds of millions of naira by residents of the state during his eight year rule (2003 to 2011).

Mr. Saraki’s spokesman, Bamikole Omishore, confirmed the receipt of the EFCC summons in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES.

“The office of Senator Bukola Saraki received the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission today 1st of August 2013. This is coming amidst earlier publication by the Leadership newspaper on Monday 29th July, 2013 where Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki was alleged to have shunned the agency’s invitation,” he said.

The aide said Mr. Saraki, now a senator, is currently in Saudi Arabia for the lesser Hajj, and would honour the anti-graft body’s summons upon his return.

“The Senator will be more than happy upon his return from Saudi Arabia to honour the invitation and assist the EFCC in their finding just as he has done in the year 2011 and 2012 respectively on the same matter,” he said.

Mr. Saraki expressed dissatisfaction over how the Senator’s summon was first announced in the newspapers.

“We will like to question the rationale behind the EFCC putting the cart before the horse. We unequivocally maintain that the pages of the newspaper is not the appropriate way to notify any Nigerian of an invitation or report to assist with an investigation prior to a written notice being duly delivered to our office.

“We urge the agency not to waste Nigerian tax payers money in whipping up sentiments for an investigation in newspaper aimed at misleading the general public,” he said.


Source: Premium Times