Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) have quizzed former Kwara State governor Dr Bukola Saraki over his alleged involvement in fraud-related matters during his eight-year tenure and when he was the executive director of the defunct Societe Generale Bank Nigeria Limited (SGBN).

A source close to the anti-graft agency also confided in LEADERSHIP last night that the senator now representing Kwara Central in the National Assembly honoured the EFCC’s invitation in the morning and was being quizzed by the EFCC operatives. The ex-governor had made useful statement to the commission, it was learnt.

LEADERSHIP had exclusively reported on July 29 that the EFCC had invited Saraki, asking him to appear before its team of investigators on Wednesday, July 31.

But the media office of the ex-governor had claimed that its principal was never invited, only for it to admit later that the invitation letter was received on Thursday August 1.

The EFCC source further informed LEADERSHIP: “I can authoritatively tell you that the ex-governor honored our invitation today (yesterday).  He came to our office at about 10 in the morning and made some useful statement.

“I can also inform you that ex-governor was allowed to go home at about 6pm while he is expected to report in our office tomorrow (today) for continuation of the investigation. But I will not be able to give the details of what transpired between our investigators and the ex-governor in order not to jeopardise the investigation.”

When contacted over the matter, the EFCC’s spokesman, Mr Wilson Uwujaren , told LEADERSHIP that Saraki was at the commission to honour the EFCC’s invitation.

The EFCC was said to have compiled a dossier on the ex-governor that contained several allegations of fraud that border on abuse of office and money laundering which the anti-graft body had covertly investigated over the past few years.

The EFCC is said to have concluded the investigation into the mega fraud that triggered the collapse of the SGBN years ago but could not move against Saraki in spite of the evidence against him on the grounds of the immunity he enjoyed as a sitting governor.

Meanwhile, the media office of Saraki, has stated that the ex-governor has honoured the EFCC’s invitation.

In the statement signed by Bamikola Omishore and made available to LEADERSHIP yesterday, the media office said, “Today, Senator Bukola Saraki honoured the invitation of the EFCC as promised while on lesser hajj. Operatives of the EFCC were civil and professional while asking their questions. Senator Saraki has since returned home.”

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