Toyin Saraki: Lawmakers, Group charge EFCC to stay clear of politics
- nationalpilot
- Aug 9, 2015
- 2 min read
Some members of the Kwara state House of Assembly and Ilorin Emirate Forum have charged the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to refrain from engaging itself in or being used as tool for political vendetta against the wife of Senate President, Mrs Toyin Saraki.
Mrs Saraki was recently invited by the anti-graft body to come and account for some financial transaction while she was the first lady of Kwara State.
Many dignitaries have since ascribed her travails in the hands of the EFCC as an offshoot of the National Assembly leadership tussle, which has pitched the Senate President, Bukola Saraki against some vested interests in the APC.
Speaking with this medium over the weekend on the issue, Hon. Ahmed Muhammed, representing Kaiama/Kemanji/Wajibe Constituency, described the invitation of Barrister Toyin Saraki as an issue laced with sinister motives.
"Though EFCC has the right to invite anybody regardless of the personality involved, however the travails of Barrister Toyin Sarki at the hands of EFCC is questionable, the timing and the motive behind it leave much to be desired.
"Since her husband left office as governor of Kwara state roughly 5 years ago, one would have thought they'll invite and question the wife if they have a case against her, why is it that it is when her husband emerged Senate President that this is coming.
Also, Hon. Abdulrasheed Taiwo Abdullahi representing Owode/Onire constituency, described the invitation as an attempt to settle political scores with the Senate President.
He said, "There is this strong conviction that some powerful politicians are trying to get back at the Senate President through the anti graft agency.
"With the way and manner the agency is going about the issue and the controversy of denials trailing the identity of purported petitioner, it shows it is more political. They should leave politicians to settle their differences without turning itself to a witch-hunt tool", he added.
Similarly, Niger State Branch of Ilorin Emirate Forum, Borgu, Niger State, has commended the Kwara state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), especially its Publicity Secretary, Chief Rex Olawoye for rising beyond party affiliation to deny the purported petition, which was alleged to have emanated from them.
The Chairman of the Forum, Alhaji Abdulrasaq Ishola Olounboasiri, who spoke with this medium on phone over the weekend, charged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to first investigate the origin of the petition in order to authenticate the veracity of the petition.
"I commend the Kwara chapter of PDP for rising above partisan politics by dis-claiming the petition, especially its secretary. I, however, want to advise the EFCC to first authenticate the veracity of the petition by unveiling the petitioner.
"Failure to unveil the petitioner, one will be tempted to toe the line of the school of thought that are saying Toyin Saraki is a victim of political victimisation. It is generally an accepted fact that something cannot stand on nothing, if the petitioner could lie about its identity, who says the content of the petition is not fictitious.
"We believe the truth will come out soon and those behind it exposed. I enjoined the anti graft agency to steer clear of politics for the sake of its integrity in its fight to bring corruption to its barest minimum" he added.
Comments