Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has taken a swipe at the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over his reaction to the commission’s investigation of his earnings as governor of Kwara state governor and his financial stewardship in the Senate.
The commission in a press statement by acting Head, Media & Publicity, Mr Tony Orilade, Wednesday in Abuja, said: “The 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.”
According to Orilade: “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 has 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.”
The spokesperson said: “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.”
Senate President, he said has no need to fret so long as he has no skeletons in his cupboard, adding: “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.”
