Smear Probe Against EFCC Boss, Saraki Reacts

Senate President Bukola Saraki has denied report that he sponsored the probe of the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde.

Saraki in a statement by one of his media aides, Bamikole Omisore said he didn’t hire one George Uboh who wrote a petition against the EFCC boss.

Lamorde is expected to appear before the Senate today over an allegation of diversion of 1 trillion naira recovered stolen money levelled against Lamorde by Uboh.

The Senate probe comes weeks after the EFCC quizzed Saraki’s wife over alleged embezzlement of public funds during her husband’s tenure in Kwara state.

“EFCC is not the only government agency that has petition against it pending before the Senate. There are pending petitions against the CG Custom, FIRS and NPA, amongst others. Is it also Senator Saraki that hired or engaged people to do this? What evidence does Sahara reporter has that links Senator Saraki to all these petitions before the Senate?

“The Senate President has no relationship whatsoever with Mr Uboh in any capacity or in the course of his emergence as Senate President. If anybody has any proof of a relationship between Senator Saraki and the said Mr. Uboh, let him or her say it now,” the statement reads.

Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday dispelled the reports of purported division in the upper chamber.

Chairman, Senate’s Adhoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Dino Melaye in a statement said the reports of the division were the handiwork of enemies of the 8th Senate.

“In the exercise of the powers conferred on the National Assembly by Section 88 and 89 of the Constitution …, the Senate shall have power to direct or cause to be directed an investigation into any matter.”

“We wish to equally state that attempts to undermine the Senate’s summon on the basis that the petition in question was sent through a senator rather to the Senate is rather begging the question as petitions to the Senate can either be sent to the Senate President directly or through individual Senators for onward presentation to the Senate.

“In this instance, the petitioner, George Uboh, sent his petition through the Senator representing his district, Senator Peter Nwaoboshi (Delta North) who in turn delivered it to the Office of the Senate President.

“Moreover, there can be no controversy as to how a communication from members of the public through their representatives should be tendered before the Senate because Order 25(c) of the Senate Standing Orders makes it abundantly clear that “he (Senate President) shall receive all communications addressed to the Senate,” Melaye said.

Daily Trust