The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has released Bukola Saraki, a former Senate president, hours after being invited to answer questions about allegations of money laundering and corruption.
Saraki arrived at the EFCC Abuja office at about 2 pm on Saturday and was taken in immediately by the agency’s investigators, according to sources familiar with the investigation.
According to sources familiar with the development, the investigation dwells on alleged theft and laundering of public funds using a network of cronies and proxy companies.
It was learnt that the former Senate president was released on Saturday night on bail.
The development comes days after the EFCC asked the federal high court in Abuja to vacate an order restraining the commission from probing the former Kwara governor.
Photos and videos of Saraki being seated in his Abuja home on Saturday night after returning from the EFCC Abuja office was shared by his aides and political associates on Twitter.
— 20.10.2020 (@I_Am_Ilemona) July 31, 2021
Reacting to the development, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the media aide to the former senate president, in a statement on Saturday said Saraki visited the EFCC office in Abuja “on his own volition” and was not arrested as reported in some sections of the media.
Olaniyonu said his principal assured the anti-graft agency of his cooperation in the course of investigation.
The statement read: “The Media Office of Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki will like to confirm that this afternoon, Dr. Saraki on his own volition visited the office of the EFCC to clarify any issue that the commission may want to raise with him,” the statement reads.
“It will be recalled that following the order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on the Fundamental Human Rights case filed by Dr. 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, pleaded with the judge that the order was preventing them from doing their job.
“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.”
Saraki, 58, was Senate President between 2015 and 2019. He also governed Kwara State from 2003 to 2011.
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