Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos

Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-political organisation, has described the latest probe of outgoing Senate President, Bukola Saraki, as political vendetta, saying the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was engaging in persecution instead of prosecution.

Residential houses belonging to Saraki located in Ikoyi, Lagos, were sealed off by the EFCC, which said it had opened a fresh investigation into Saraki’s stewardship as Senate President as well as a probe of his earnings as governor from 2003 – 2011.

Saraki, however, insisted that the action of the EFCC was a witch-hunt, claiming that the property in question had been investigated by the commission several times in the past.

Reacting to the development, Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, said while the organisation was not against probing anyone who was suspected to be corrupt, engaging in media trial and seizure of properties even before charges had been filed was not a proper way to go about investigation.

“I think it is more of persecution than prosecution because if you are doing corruption investigation, there are ways to go about it.

“All the media trial that EFCC is doing and going about seizing properties when it has not filed any charges – it is clear that there is some political vendetta at work.

“We are not against investigation of anybody for alleged corruption because nobody is above the law. But when you begin to show that you are engaged in persecution rather than prosecution, it doesn’t speak well.

“I don’t think Saraki is the only politician in Nigeria today. Why is it that it is only Saraki that the EFCC is investigating, starting from 2003 when he was state governor and Senate President? It is very unfortunate the way they are going about it.”

However, in his reaction, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), said what the anti-graft agency was investigating Saraki for was acquisition of properties by fraudulent means and not false declaration of assets for which he had been cleared by the courts.

“The investigation is not over. The earlier one was the issue of false declaration of assets. What they are doing now is acquiring properties by fraudulent means and siphoning money from the state.

“So, it is a totally different charge. Although he was cleared up to the Supreme Court on the issue of declaration of false assets, this one is different.

“That the court declared that a case is not proved does not mean that there is no guilt. So, this is a second approach which permits the agency to actually have the property forfeited without proving guilt.

“All he has to do is to go through the first process of temporary forfeiture and then, the owner of the property (in this case, Saraki) will be invited by the court through an order to come and justify how he acquired the property, usually by affidavit.

“So, the two parties will come and if he cannot establish satisfactorily to the court that he earned the money by which he acquired the property, then he will lose it to the Federal Government.”

When asked whether the current probe by EFCC was not connected to the refusal of the Senate under Saraki’s leadership to confirm Ibrahim Magu, the acting Chairman of the EFCC as the substantive chairman, Sagay said the motive for probing a crime was irrelevant.

“Certainly, I am not interested. Motive in this case is irrelevant. If a crime has been committed, you can have a wrong motive to do a good thing. Who cares?” Sagay said.
https://www.independent.ng/sarakis-probe-efcc-engaging-in-persecution-afenifere/

This group are all looking for favour

waiting for the first mumu to shout afonja.......

You can say DAT again

Efcc, Magu, APC I dont care who is involved but God go punish all Nigerian politicians dead or alive. There is suffering, insecurity everywhere, yet all they do is play politics and will never face governance.

...........

This seems to have become personal between Magu and Saraki

old story

There was a country!!

Afonja again

nairavsdollars:
Temidayo Akinsuyi, Lagos

Afenifere, the Yoruba socio-political organisation, has described the latest probe of outgoing Senate President, Bukola Saraki, as political vendetta, saying the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was engaging in persecution instead of prosecution.

Residential houses belonging to Saraki located in Ikoyi, Lagos, were sealed off by the EFCC, which said it had opened a fresh investigation into Saraki’s stewardship as Senate President as well as a probe of his earnings as governor from 2003 – 2011.

Saraki, however, insisted that the action of the EFCC was a witch-hunt, claiming that the property in question had been investigated by the commission several times in the past.

Reacting to the development, Yinka Odumakin, Afenifere’s National Publicity Secretary, said while the organisation was not against probing anyone who was suspected to be corrupt, engaging in media trial and seizure of properties even before charges had been filed was not a proper way to go about investigation.

“I think it is more of persecution than prosecution because if you are doing corruption investigation, there are ways to go about it.

“All the media trial that EFCC is doing and going about seizing properties when it has not filed any charges – it is clear that there is some political vendetta at work.

“We are not against investigation of anybody for alleged corruption because nobody is above the law. But when you begin to show that you are engaged in persecution rather than prosecution, it doesn’t speak well.

“I don’t think Saraki is the only politician in Nigeria today. Why is it that it is only Saraki that the EFCC is investigating, starting from 2003 when he was state governor and Senate President? It is very unfortunate the way they are going about it.”

However, in his reaction, Prof. Itse Sagay (SAN), Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC), said what the anti-graft agency was investigating Saraki for was acquisition of properties by fraudulent means and not false declaration of assets for which he had been cleared by the courts.

“The investigation is not over. The earlier one was the issue of false declaration of assets. What they are doing now is acquiring properties by fraudulent means and siphoning money from the state.

“So, it is a totally different charge. Although he was cleared up to the Supreme Court on the issue of declaration of false assets, this one is different.

“That the court declared that a case is not proved does not mean that there is no guilt. So, this is a second approach which permits the agency to actually have the property forfeited without proving guilt.

“All he has to do is to go through the first process of temporary forfeiture and then, the owner of the property (in this case, Saraki) will be invited by the court through an order to come and justify how he acquired the property, usually by affidavit.

“So, the two parties will come and if he cannot establish satisfactorily to the court that he earned the money by which he acquired the property, then he will lose it to the Federal Government.”

When asked whether the current probe by EFCC was not connected to the refusal of the Senate under Saraki’s leadership to confirm Ibrahim Magu, the acting Chairman of the EFCC as the substantive chairman, Sagay said the motive for probing a crime was irrelevant.

“Certainly, I am not interested. Motive in this case is irrelevant. If a crime has been committed, you can have a wrong motive to do a good thing. Who cares?” Sagay said.
https://www.independent.ng/sarakis-probe-efcc-engaging-in-persecution-afenifere/

This group as since lost the relevance accord them years ago.

Եհҽ աҽ ցօԵ ƒɾօʍ օҍɑՏɑղյօ աɑՏ վɑɾ'ժմɑ,, Եհҽ ҍҽՏԵ ցíƒԵ աҽ ցօԵ ƒɾօʍ յօղɑԵհɑղ աɑՏ ժҽʍօϲɾɑϲվ (ɾմӀҽ օƒ Ӏɑա)

ղօա ɑʍ ՏԵíӀӀ ԵհíղƘíղց ɑҍօմԵ Եհҽ ցíƒԵ աҽ հɑѵҽ ցօԵԵҽղ Տօ ƒɑɾ ƒɾօʍ ԵհíՏ ϲմɾɾҽղԵ ɑժʍíղíՏԵɾɑԵíօղ (ϲҽɾԵɑíղӀվ ɑʍ ϲօղƒմՏҽժ ϲօՏ íԵ'Տ Եօօ ղմʍҽɾօմՏ Եօ ʍҽղԵíօղ) մ ϲɑղ հҽӀԹ ʍҽ աíԵհ օղҽ.

Government of the zoo, while Tinubu, Amaechi and others are moving free without being harassed. EFFC a tool used by Buhari to persecute political enemies.

All these groups should just shut the F up and allow Saraki go clear his name.. Mind you, we all know Saraki is corrupt.

Afonja again Afonja again Afonja again

Nigeria is sailing like a rudderless ship,the happenings in Kano depict the kind of government we have in Nigeria.Gandollar took a pound of flesh from Sanusi by splitting Kano Emirate because of Sanusi's political views prior to governship election in Kano and again Kano State lawmakers instituted bill for a life pension for themselves.It is now glaring that criminals are in power.

Ok

If Afenifere likes they can concern themselves more with personal issues rather than regional matters such as railway completion or jobs creation.

They are irrelevant anyway.

Whoever they've backed in the last 10 years, often ends up the loser.

Afenifebi still exist?

okenwaa:
There was a country!!

There was really a country! If we no leave this place, our children fit curse us in the future. It's really terrible.!

EFCC ignores low hanging fruit in pursue of the opposition

I think the people in Afenifere are mad. We (Kwarans) petitioned the Efcc on what he has stolen from us and you are now shouting persecution. Afenifere ko, afenifebi ni. Useless old men.

I wonder what yoruba supporters of APC will have to say in this one

Yinka odumakin is just a frustrated and disgruntled idiot.

skales67:
I wonder what yoruba supporters of APC will have to da in this one

See one poster above and below you

Ok ooh

What's the persecution talk all about.

He has nothing to fear if his hands are clean.

Do you know how many unwarranted search and interrogation the police and SARS execute on common Nigerians


EFCC should carry on please.

PedroEastman:
Afonja again

I said it! u proved it.....see ur scattered teeth like afonja own

PedroEastman:
Afonja again

I said it! u proved it.....see ur scattered teeth like afonja own

EMMAACHILE:

See one poster above and below you

Chineke! Bro you smart o...

One said "ok" as per being confused on whether to attack Afenifere or not...

The other one just resorted to verbal eruption abusing his elder

Kikikikiki

***Modified***

The "Ok Guy" just modified his Ok comment and claimed Saraki stole from him!

I wonder what Saraki came to steal from him in his house o...is it the white maggi he uses to cook efo riro or his rechargeable lantern?

Cc @EMMAACHILE

skales67:


Chineke! Bro you smart o...

One said "ok" as per being confused on whether to attack Afenifere or not...

The other one just resorted to verbal eruption abusing his elder

Kikikikiki