EFCC Replies Saraki, Remands Kwara Officials in Custody
You Are Not Above the Law, EFCC Replies Saraki
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has taken note of the reactions of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki to the Commission’s inquiries regarding his earnings as Kwara State governor as well as on the quality of his financial stewardship in the Senate.
While it is his prerogative to ventilate his views on the matter as he deems fit, the Commission takes strong exception at the desperate attempt to cast a slur on its investigative activities by portraying Saraki as a victim of persecution.
Furthermore, the Agency finds the attempt by the Senate President to tie our inquest to his International Human Rights Commission, IHRC appointment and his approaching life out of power as misleading, knowing too well that the background to our current inquiries reaches several years back.
For the avoidance of doubt, the EFCC is obligated by law to enthrone probity and accountability in the governance space and has supremely pursued this duty without ill-will or malice against anyone.
It is in the interest of the public, and for Saraki’s personal good, that he is not only above board, but be seen at all times to be so.
Indeed, all the instances in which the EFCC have had cause to sleuth into his financial activities either as a former governor or President of the Senate were driven by overarching public interest and due process of the law.
Against the background of the posse of indicting petitions and other evidence available to the EFCC, even Saraki will agree with the Commission that putting him through a legitimate forensic inquiry is the legitimate route to establish his integrity as a public servant.
The distinguished Senate President has no need to fret so long as he has no skeletons in his cupboard.
The Commission has a sacred mandate to rid the country of corruption and corrupt elements and restates its unflinching resolve to achieve these, no matter whose ox is gored.
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Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
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Kwara Officials Remanded in EFCC Custody Pending Ruling on Bail
Four officials of the Kwara State government accused of money laundering by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, were on Wednesday, May 8, 2019 returned to the custody of the anti-graft custody, pending ruling on their bail applications at a later date.
The EFCC had last week arraigned Abubakar Ishiak, Permanent Secretary, Government House; Shina Akorede, Director of Finance and Administration; Rasaq Momonu, Controller Finance and Accounts, and Hafeez Yusuf, Cashier before a Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin.
The EFCC accused them of making “cash payment of N20.3 million to one Energy Multi-Trade Interbiz limited for services rendered to the Kwara State Government House, which cash sum exceeded the limitation of N10 million payable to a body corporate committing an offence contrary to section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (as amended) and punishable under section 12(2) of the same Act.”
At the resumed sitting, counsel to the defendants, Abdulwahab Bamidele, urged the court to grant them bail pending the determination of the allegations levelled against them.
Opposing the bail application, counsel to EFCC, Christopher Mshelia, urged the court to discountenance the application for bail, and to accord the case accelerated hearing.
He said: “It is an obligation on the applicants to provide sufficient materials for the court to sway the discretionary powers in their favour.
“We submit that the court should consider the nature of the allegations against the applicants.
“The reasons adduced by the applicants are too watery to warrant the exercise of the discretionary powers of the court for bail.”
After listening to the arguments, trial judge, Justice Baba Gana Ashigir reserved ruling on the bail application till a later date to be communicated to the parties.
Hearing on the substantive case has been fixed for June 23, 2019.
Tony Orilade
Ag. Head, Media & Publicity
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