A former Senate President Bukola Saraki honoured the invitation of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission for interrogation and has since been released.
The former Senate President’s spokesman, Yusuph Olaniyonu, also issued a statement on Saturday while reacting to reports that his principal was arrested.
A social media aide to Saraki, Bamikole Omisore, had earlier denied that Saraki was in EFCC custody, claiming that the former Senate President was attending a wedding.
In a subsequent statement, however, Saraki’s media office explained that indeed the former Senate President had gone to the EFCC office in Abuja but was only to clarify issues.
The statement read in part, “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.
“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.”
According to the statement, Saraki answered questions from the commission and has since returned 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,” the statement further read.