DSS raid: I didn’t speak on Saraki’s behalf, says senator

Chukwuka Utazi, chairman, senate committee on anti-corruption and financial crimes, says his comments at the national dialogue on corruption should not be attributed to Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Utazi, who represented Saraki at the progrmamme organised by Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) had described the raid on homes of judges as a violation of Nigeria’s laws.

“The recent so-called sting operation by the Department of State Services on the residences of some very senior justices, some without search warrants, others without any proof of incriminating body of evidence, leaves much to be desired,” the senator had said.

“That sting operation was a needless violation of our laws and an aberration that democratic society should consider anathema. The EFCC should have been provided the necessary intelligence to execute its mandate if the evidence disclosed a prima facie case against the justices.”

But in a statement on Friday, Utazi said he was adopting comments as the senate committee chairman on anti-corruption and financial crimes.

“My attention has been drawn to media reports on the views I expressed yesterday at the opening day of the national dialogue on corruption organised by the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption (PACAC),” the statement read.

“Let me make it clear that though I represented the senate president at the dialogue, I am owning and adopting the speech I delivered as that of the senate committee on anti-corruption and financial crimes which I chair.”