PDP, EFCC bicker over alleged ‘renewed harassment’ of Saraki

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned what it described as renewed harassment of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.
The party made the condemnation in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan, on Wednesday in Abuja.
Ologbondiyan said that the use of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to hound Saraki was a clear case of political witch-hunt.
He said that the “fresh siege against Saraki’’ was  part of the larger plot for a renewed clamp-down on key opposition figures and perceived political opponents of the APC administration.
He said it was particularly to frustrate the determination to retrieve alleged stolen presidential mandate of the PDP at the tribunal.
Ologbondiyan said that nothing else could explain the resort to alleged intimidation and evidence-fishing, just to nail Saraki at all costs, after several investigations.
He alleged that Saraki was still being hounded even after he had been prosecuted but discharged and acquitted by the Supreme Court, over claims of false asset declaration against him.
“Moreover, our party already has information on how certain elements in the APC have plotted to cash in on the new siege  to harm key leaders of our party, under certain guise.
“The APC is called upon to note that Nigerians are already aware of the truth in all issues leading to this renewed harassment of the Senate President.
“We insist that no harm must come to Senator Saraki or any member of his family,’’ he said.
But EFCC has told Saraki that “he is not above the law”.
Acting spokesman of the commission, Mr Tony Orilade said this in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday.
According to Orilade, the EFCC has taken note of the reactions of the Senate President to the Commission’s inquiries regarding his earnings as Kwara State governor.
Recently, the commission had begun investigation into the Senate President’s activities while he held sway as the governor of Kwara.
“While it is his prerogative to ventilate his views on the matter as he deems fit, the commission takes great exception at the desperate attempt to cast a slur on its investigative activities by portraying Saraki as a victim of persecution.
“Furthermore, the agency finds the attempt by the Senate President to tie our inquest to his International Human Rights Commission (IHRC) appointment and his approaching life out of power as misleading.
“This is knowing too well that the background to our current inquiries reaches several years back.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the EFCC is obligated by law to enthrone probity and accountability in the governance space and has supremely pursued this duty without ill-will or malice against anyone.
“It is in the interest of the public and for Saraki’s personal good, that he is not only above board, but be seen at all times to be so,” he said.