EFCC quizzes Saraki over fresh corruption allegations

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday quizzed former Senate President Bukola Saraki over fresh corruption allegations bordering on theft and money laundering.

A senior official at the commission said Saraki was not arrested by the anti-graft agency, but he was invited during the week to report at the EFCC headquarters to answer some questions.

The source explained that the former Senate president pleaded with the commission formally that he would honour the invitation on Saturday when he would be in Abuja for a wedding ceremony.

According to him, Saraki was to answer questions over an alleged theft and laundering of public funds using a network of cronies and proxy companies.

Another official, who confirmed Saraki’s interaction with the operatives of the commission yesterday, said he was not actually the target of the fresh probe but a former governor in Kwara State, Abdul-Fatah Ahmed, who is his ally.

“The commission is not originally probing Saraki. We are investigating former Governor Ahmed and the investigation necessitates that we invite him (Saraki) in order to shed more light on some issues,’” the source said.

He added that while Ahmed was governor, he and other cronies to Saraki executed some contracts for him in Kwara State.

Confirming the story, Spokesman of the EFCC, Wilson Uwajaren said, Saraki was invited for questioning over allegations of corruption and money laundering.