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Senator Bukola Saraki
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By: Hammed Shittu
Former Governor of Kwara State and Senator representing
Kwara Central Senatorial district at the National Assembly, Senator Bukola
Saraki, Thursday berated a group he said was peddling rumour of corruption
against him, describing it as frivolous and uncalled for
Saraki in a statement made available to journalists in
Ilorin by his media aide, Mr. Bamikole Omisore, denied any case of corruption
against him.
The statement said: "The office of Director of Public
Prosecution (DPP) of the Federal Ministry of Justice had reviewed and
interpreted the case and found him not culpable in any corrupt practices.”
It also implored members of the public to disregard
fictitious media reports being published in some national dailies (not THISDAY)
against Saraki.
Omisore said: “We will like to inform the public that
following the review and due interpretation of the case, by the office of DPP
of the Federal Ministry of Justice, via a letter dated October 9, 2012, with
reference number DPP/ADV: 061/12, addressed to Inspector General of Police
(IG), it is clearly stated that Senator Saraki has no case against him as the
allegation is frivolous.”
In its letter to IG, DPP further advised: “It would
therefore be improper and unjust in the circumstances to hold Saraki and Mr.
Pinhero or indeed the companies criminally liable for the internal actions and
decisions of the bank and its officials bordering on exercise of discretion.”
Further to a letter to the Attorney General of the
Federation by Saraki’s counsel, the
Attorney General office in a letter dated October 24, 2012, stated that,
"after a thorough consideration of the investigative report and the
relevant laws applicable thereto, the allegations against Saraki, are unfounded
and manifestly unsupportable in law. It is our belief that the referred
document has finally put the matter to rest thereby setting the record
straight.”
Saraki, who said the media attacks against him was not
unconnected with his efforts at revealing the corruption and corrupt people in
the oil sector, added that the country had gained from the revelation of oil
subsidy scam as exposed by him.
“It is a common knowledge today that one year after the fuel
subsidy saga, Nigerians have all seen that the facts are true. Today, there
have been changes in the process, government has been able to save billions of
naira, illegal and unscrupulous traders and importers have been stopped from
participation. Overall, the country has gained from the revelation of oil
subsidy scam as exposed by Saraki,” he said.
The statement added that: “It has always been our position
that the truth behind this blackmail is as a result of bold step taken by the
senator over his stand on the corrupt practices surrounding the petroleum
subsidy, which has caused him to be hunted. We had already stated at that time
that it was strange that a matter that took place over two years ago, which has
been concluded by the investigative authorities, resurfaced coincidentally at
the time the motion on oil Subsidy came up.
"We are not unmindful of the fact that there are people
who feel threatened by Saraki’s principled stance as they will not stop moving
from agency to agency looking for one will cooperate and suit their strategy in
finding a charge that will stick at all cost. It is our strong believe that the
same way they have failed in their effort with Special Fraud Unit (SFU), they
will definitely fail with others, as justice will always prevail. It has always
been said that when you fight corruption, corruption will fight back at you.
"We will like to thank and appreciate all our followers
and the public who stood by Saraki during this period for their unflinching
support and belief.”
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