saraki-yaradu
Wife of the Senate President, Mrs. Toyin Saraki and daughter of the late President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, Amina, were on Tuesday, quizzed for about six hours by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, for alleged money laundering.
Mrs. Saraki was invited by the Commission for questioning over alleged shady contracts during her husband’s tenure as governor of Kwara between 2003 and 2011.
The invitation was in relation to alleged contracts executed by companies said to be linked to her while her husband was Kwara governor.
Spokesman of the commission, Wilso Uwujaren, who confirmed the quizzing of Saraki’s wife told our correspondent on phone Tuesday night that she is to re-appear at the commission today (Wednesday).
Uwujaren said: “Mrs. Saraki was in our office for questioning following an earlier invitation sent to her over allegation of corruption.
“I cannot speak further on the issue because I am currently not in the office and don’t have further details on the questioning.’’
Mrs. Saraki arrived the EFCC office in Abuja around 12:30pm, about 2 hours behind schedule.
She was accompanied by some members of the Kwara State House of Assembly, some Federal legislators and a retinue of Kwara politicians and supporters.
On her part, Aminat Yar’Adua, who arrived the commission’s office earlier, sneaked out almost unnoticed after being interrogated.
Politicians and supporters who accompanied Mrs. Saraki virtually forced their way into the EFCC’s office thereby leading to a rowdy atmosphere in the area before they left at about 6:24 on Tuesday evening.
The wife of the Senate President however rebuffed attempt to interview her by Journalists who had laid siege at the commission’s office as early as 8:00am
But a competent source at the EFCC Office said Mrs. Saraki told the team of investigators that she had never been involved in any unlawful transaction of public funds during the regime of her husband as the Governor of Kwara State.
The former first lady in a statement issued by her NGO, Well Being Foundation, after her interrogation, pledged to support and cooperate with the EFCC in ensuring credible investigation into the allegation.
The statement said Saraki had surrendered herself to the EFCC in line with her believe in transparency and accountability.
The anti-graft agency, it would be recalled, had summoned Mrs. Saraki last week to appear on Tuesday to answer questions bothering on alleged money laundering running into billions of Naira.