The senate president, Bukola Saraki, has denied being involved in the
N60bn arms deal involving the immediate past National Security Adviser,
Sambo Dasuki.
Mr. Saraki, in a statement by his special adviser (media and publicity),
Yusuph Olaniyonu, said that contrary to a report published by news
website, SaharaReporters, he never had anything to do with purchase of
security equipment because in his entire political career he never served
in any committee or body which has any link with defence or national
security.
“As a member of the Seventh Senate, Dr. Saraki was not a member of any of
the committees which have oversight function on the Ministry of Defence
or the intelligence and national security apparatus.
If he was tagged the
leader of the opposition to the Jonathan administration, how then will he
be privy to arms purchases and have the influence to blackmail any
government agency or institution over the release of funds,” the
statement said.
Mr. Saraki said the report was a plot by SaharaReporters to tarnish his
reputation, as the medium was pursuing “the singular objective of
removing him from the office of the Senate President”.
The Saharareporters’ report accused Mr. Saraki of blackmailing the
Central Bank of Nigeria to pay him and other senators N250 million as a
way of covering up the arbitrary withdrawal by the NSA from the security
fund approved by former President Goodluck Jonathan.
“First, there is no logic in SaharaReporters’ claim as Dr. Saraki who was
persecuted by the last administration could not have had the influence
and good standing to walk up to the Central Bank to demand for any money
having exposed many atrocities of the past administration.
Again, on what ground would the Senate President blackmail anyone for
250 Million naira?
It must be emphasized here that Dr. Saraki will never engage in any sharp
practice or issue which will warrant him to blackmail any individual or
government institution.
“Therefore for record purposes, Dr. Saraki did not collect any money from
any official of the CBN in respect of any arms deal.
The Senate President also challenge SaharaReporters or any official of the apex bank, Senator,
serving or past, who witnessed or participated in any sharing of the
alleged money purported to have been received by him, to come out with
evidence.
“It should be recalled that SaharaReporters believe it can continue to
disparage and defame people claiming that it is operating outside the
country. The medium cannot operate above the law.
“The game being played by SaharaReporters and its sponsors is clear. As
they have done in previous cases involving the on-going trial of the
Senate President at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, they are targeting the
Appeal at the Supreme Court coming up on Thursday, December 3rd 2015.
They want to prejudice the Supreme Court as they have done when they
blackmailed a judge of the Federal High Court to withdraw from the case
and also published false reports, which compelled the Court of Appeal to
postpone its judgment at the last minute.
“Whatever the motive of SaharaReporters, it is high time we employed the
instrument of the law to stop this act of impunity aimed at publishing
false reports believing the victims will not go to court or be frustrated
by its dubious claims that they are domiciled outside Nigeria.
“We urge all Nigerians and other well-meaning individuals across the
globe to ignore this absolutely false claim by SaharaReporters.
Like we earlier stated, this false claim shall not go unchallenged. We
shall meet in court.
“We have allowed SaharaReporters enough latitude to indulge in their
unscrupulous and mischievous method of journalism. However, enough is
enough.
We have no option than to commence legal action against Sahara Reporters
in all relevant jurisdictions, particularly on the issue of fake passport,
false claim of bribery and the recent one on blackmail, all aimed at
tarnishing the image of the Senate President,” the statement said.
But SaharaReporters said Tuesday it stood by its report and assured Mr.
Saraki it will defend its position in any court within and outside Nigeria.
“As Nigeria’s number three man, there is no need for him to do legal
tourism by going to courts outside the country. He should believe in the
system and go to any court in Nigeria,”
“We are ready to meet him in any court in Nigeria.If he goes to court to
challenge us outside of Nigeria, he would be using the money he has taken
from the Nigerian people to pay expensive lawyers outside the shores of
Nigeria whereas all the evidences of his corruption are based here in
Nigeria.”
Mr. Sowore said the senate under Mr. Saraki failed to raise any concern
about the extra-budgetary withdrawals, even when it knew about it, because
its leaders were involved in the fraud.
About The Nigerian Blogger
0 comments :
Post a Comment