National News Special Report
ATIKU SPEAKS: THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE EFCC PROSECUTING SARAKI BUT... (READ DETAIL)
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Afnews Editor
Jul 02, 2019
Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, 2019
presidential candidate, on Tuesday declared that there is nothing wrong with
the EFCC prosecuting the immediate past Senate President, Bukola Saraki for
alleged corruption but warned that this must not be done as a persecution.
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Atiku pointed out that Saraki, who led his 2019 presidential
campaign, is one of the most investigated politicians in Nigeria, who has been
investigated and prosecuted all the way to the Supreme Court without being
found guilty.
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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, recently
disclosed it was investigating Saraki's stewardship during his period as the
governor of Kwara State and the Senate President.
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"Let it be stated in unequivocal terms that the
investigation of Saraki's stewardship, whether as a former Senate President or
as a former governor of Kwara State, has absolutely nothing to do with the
non-confirmation of Mr. Ibrahim Magu as the substantive Chairman of the EFCC,ÔÇØ
the Commission had said in a statement.
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However, the former Vice President observed that the current
probe of Saraki "tends towards persecution.ÔÇØ
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In a post on his Facebook wall, Atiku wrote: "Ordinarily,
there is nothing wrong in prosecuting immediate past Senate President,
@bukolasaraki. He, himself, has indicated his preparedness to have his day in
court. We, however, hope that he will indeed be PROSECUTED and not PERSECUTED.
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"I stand against corruption in government, which was why my
office personally facilitated the take-off of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission with a loan, after that most important anti-corruption institution
was founded by then President Olusegun Obasanjo.
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"However, there is a huge difference between prosecution and
persecution. I am all for prosecuting the corrupt, but I believe it is wrong to
use the instruments of state to persecute political opponents.
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"Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, the immediate past Senate
President, is one of the most investigated politicians in Nigeria. He has been
investigated and prosecuted all the way to the Supreme Court and has prevailed
against his accusers. It was expected that that should have been the end of the
matter.
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"However, the revival of previously investigated cases, and
the fact that Dr. Saraki was politically opposed to the administration of
General Muhammadu Buhari seems to give strong grounds for objective bystanders
to conclude that his current travails have gone beyond prosecution and are now
tending towards prosecution.
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"The laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria are made for
all and we fought for democracy so that the powers of the state would not be
used to suborn tyranny and oppression.
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"In the instance, I urge Dr. Bukola Saraki to stand firm and
take solace in the fact Nigerians still hold the constitution higher than any
other authority.
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"I urge all Nigerians, and especially those tasked with upholding the constitution and the laws of the land, to note that silence in the face of oppression is akin to acquiescence. I, Atiku Abubakar, will always stand up for the constitution and Nigeria.ÔÇØ (DP)
