You won’t be afraid if you have nothing to hide – EFCC tells Saraki

Nigeria’s Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says Senate President Bukola Saraki ought not to be afraid if he has nothing to hide.

Responding to the allegation that Saraki is being witch-hunted, the anti-graft agency said its investigation is driven by public interest and due process of the law.

Yusuph Olaniyonu, spokesman of the senate president, had accused the commission of intimidating Saraki with its probe of his tenure as governor of Kwara state.

Saraki governed Kwara between 2003 and 2011.

But the commission kicked against what it described as “portraying Saraki as a victim of persecution”.

“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,” the commission said in a statement.

“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.

“The distinguished Senate President has no need to fret so long as he has no skeletons in his cupboard.”