EFCC: Probe into Saraki’s earnings as governor started before Human Rights Council appointment

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has been investigating the activities of Senate President Bukola Saraki long before his appointment as the ambassador of the International Human Rights Commission (IHRC).

The EFCC was reacting to a report that that it initiated the investigation against Saraki as a result of his appointment as the ambassador of IHRC.

But Tony Orilade, EFCC spokesman, described the report as misleading, asking the public to disregard the “false connection” which the report sought to establish between Saraki’s ambassadorial appointment and the probe into his earnings when he was a state governor.

The anti-graft agency said it would not be distracted from its efforts to rid the country of corruption.

“The attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has been drawn to a publication and wishes to correct the deliberate falsehood and misinformation it served the general public,” Orilade said a statement.

“With this, the writer strived to create a misleading nexus between the Senate President’s IHRC ambassadorial appointment and EFCC’s inquiries into his financial earnings as Kwara State governor.

“For the avoidance of doubt, investigation into the Senate President’s activities while he held sway as the governor of Kwara State started long before his nomination and emergence as IHRC ambassador.

“In fact, the Commission’s letter to the Kwara State Government House which sought an inquest into Saraki’s earnings as the state governor, from from 2003 to 2011 was dated Friday, April 26, 2019, predating his announcement as IHRC ambassador at large which came on Sunday, April 28, 2019 with two clear days.

“We, therefore, urge members of the public to disregard the false connect the writer sought to establish between Saraki’s IHRC ambassadorial appointment and our inquiries into his earnings as a state governor.

“We wish to restate our resolve to resist distractions from any quarter in our efforts to rid the country of corruption and corrupt elements.”