Reps Raise Alarm Over EFCC’s Invitation To Saraki’s Wife

Ahead of the expected appearance of the Wife of the Senate President,
Mrs. Toyin Saraki, before the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, a group of members of the House of Representatives have kicked against the invitation by the anti-graft body.

Their objection to the invitation came on the heels of condemnation of a petition against the former Governor of Abia State over alleged appropriation of N474billion while in office. The petition against the governor was by a group, “Save Babia Initiative For Change” (SAIFC), which urged the EFCC to investigate its allegations.

The group, in a statement in Abuja signed by Umar Buba Jibril, representing Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency and Muhammad
Kabiru Ajanah, representing Okehi/Adavi Federal Constituency, on behalf of 25 other lawmakers in the green chamber, described the sudden invitation of Mrs. Saraki by the anti-graft agency as highly suspicious.

They said, although they will continue to encourage the EFCC to carry out its legal mandate, it was optimistic that the highly professional anti-graft body, “will not lend itself as a tool to propagate the political agenda of any person or group.”

It added that it holds strongly that the days of using the EFCC to harass and intimidate political opponents are gone for good, and advised that “We must never return to that dark and dangerous side in our polity.”

The group said it was concerned that the leadership of the National
Assembly is being targeted for unnecessary harassment using state institutions.

The statement titled: “Curious EFCC invitation of Barr. Toyin Saraki” reads “We the concerned Members of the House of Representatives have followed the recent trend of political intrigues since the emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as the Senate President.