EFCC Releases Saraki From Custody — After Questioning Over Alleged ‘Money Laundering’

*Why I went to EFC office – Saraki

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Saturday quizzed a former Senate president, Bukola Saraki, over alleged misappropriation of public funds and money laundering.

Saraki, who arrived at the EFCC office around 2pm was reportedly interrogated for hours by detectives over alleged involvement in misappropriation of billions of naira while he was governor.

Details of the allegations against him were sketchy but it was said to be in connection with contracts awarded during his tenure in office.

Saraki, 58, was Senate President between 2015 and 2019. He also governed Kwara State from 2003 to 2011.

A senior official confirmed the development, stating that the former Kwara State governor was invited to shed light on some shady financial dealings.

This is happening four days after a former Nasarawa State Governor, Tanko Al-Makura, and his wife, Mairo, were grilled by the EFCC over breach of public trust and misappropriation of billions of naira by his administration.

The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, did not respond to questions by Sunday PUNCH on the development last night.

But the former Senate President, in a statement by Yusuph Olaniyonu of the Abubakar Bukola Saraki Media Office, confirmed that he paid a visit to the EFCC office on Saturday afternoon.

The statement read, “The Media Office of Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki will like to confirm that this afternoon (Saturday), Dr Saraki, of his own volition, visited the office of the EFCC to clarify any issue that the commission may want to raise with him.”

Olaniyonu recalled that, following the order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on the fundamental human rights case filed by Saraki during the period of the former chairman of the EFCC, which precluded the commission from investigating him until the matter is dispensed with, the commission at the last hearing on July 14, 2021, had pleaded with the judge that the order was preventing it from doing their job.

He said, “Following this complaint, Dr Saraki, as a responsible citizen, on his own volition, approached the commission that, at the earliest convenient date, he was willing to visit the commission’s office and clarify all issues they might want to raise with him.

“He, therefore, visited the commission’s office this afternoon and answered some questions. He is back home. He was not arrested. Dr. Saraki also assured the commission that he has nothing to hide and will always make himself available to clear all issues that may require his attention.”