THE Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, EFCC, vowed on Friday to take
necessary steps to arrest and try former Kwara
State Governor, Bukola Saraki, for several
fraud-related cases.
The commission, apparently peeved by the
refusal of the former governor to honour its
invitation dated July 25, 2013, said that it
would use all legitimate means to compel the
Senator to honour its invitation.
The action of the anti-graft agency followed
the denial by Saraki that he had not received
any invitation from the commission over any
fraud-related investigation.
The former governor, who now heads the
Senate Committee on Environment, described
his alleged refusal to honour EFCC summon to
answer questions relating to his tenure at the
Societe General Bank of Nigeria and at the
Government House Ilorin for eight years, as a
calculated attempt to tarnish his image.
Saraki said however that he would happily
report to the agency once he was served with
the invitation to do so, as he had nothing to
hide about his tenure.
Saraki who spoke through his aide, Bamikole
Omishore, said that he only got to know about
his invitation on the pages of an Abuja-based
newspaper and expressed surprise that the
agency, which had been investigating him over
the years had resorted to using such a medium
to summon him.
Saraki said that there was nothing new for the
EFCC to investigate about him, having carried
out similar probe between 2010 and 2012
without finding anything incriminating against
him and his administration.
The lawmaker said: “For the avoidance of
doubt, those who have been following this
unfolding drama will recall that the EFCC has
been conducting investigations on the Senator
between 2010 and 2012 without finding him
wanting in any way.
”As regards SGBN, again this is not new, as
investigation on this was done over 10 years
ago and during the investigations Senator
Saraki while governor of Kwara State waived
his immunity to answer questions by EFCC
officials in Lagos as regards his time at the
bank.
But the Commission on Friday, faulted Saraki’s
claim of not receiving its summon to appear
before it on July 31, 2013 to answer questions
on pending fraud-related matters.
The Spokesman for the commission, Mr.
Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Senator
Saraki was invited through the Office of the
Clerk of the National Assembly by a letter
dated July 25, 2013.
Uwujaren said, “Saraki was to report at
Idiagbon House by 10 am on Wednesday July
31, 2013 but did not honour the invitation.
“The Senator has eight major matters pending
before the EFCC and the commission will use
all means within the ambit of the law to
compel him to honour the invitation,” he said.
A copy of the invitation letter, which was
obtained by Saturday Vanguard on Friday, was
signed by the EFCC Director of Operations, Mr
Olaolu Adegbite and dated July 25, 2013 with
reference No. CR: 3000/EFCC/ABJ/EG/
VOL.12/97.
The letter was entitled “Investigation Activities
on Senator Bukola Saraki” and addressed to
the Clerk of the National Assembly.
Part of the invitation letter read: “The EFCC is
investigating a case of fraud involving the
above Distinguished Senator. We accordingly
seek your kind assistance to release him to
report to the undersigned at Idiagbon House,
No 5 Fomella Street, Wuse 2, Abuja at 10 am
on July 31, 2013 in furtherance of the
investigation.
Thank you in anticipation of your usual
cooperation, please,” the commission said in
the letter.
It was not clear as at the time of going to
press if the former governor had acknowledged
receipt of the invitation letter.
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