The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has invited Toyin Saraki, the wife of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, for questioning over alleged shady contracts during her husband’s tenure as the governor of Kwara State.
Also, the daughter of the late former President Umaru Yar’Adua, who is also the wife of an ex-Governor of Kebbi State, Mrs. Zaina Dakingari, was said to have been invited by the anti-graft agency.
Saraki’s wife is billed to appear before EFCC interrogators on July 28, a day after Yar’Adua’s daughter would have been questioned.
It was learnt Mrs Dakingari would answer questions on the alleged misappropriation of N2bn state funds.
Toyin Saraki was said to be under probe in relation to several contracts executed by companies said to be linked to her while her husband held sway as the Kwara governor.
A source at the EFCC, who confided in our correspondent in Abuja, said, “The commission has invited the wives of two former state governors, Mrs. Toyin Saraki and Mrs. Zaiba Dakingari.
“Mrs. Dakingari was supposed to have appeared before the commission on Wednesday (yesterday) but she sent a message that she was outside the country and would honour the invitation on July 27, 2015.
“She is to provide an explanation in relation to N2bn state funds.
“The commission is expecting Saraki on July 28, 2015. The exact amount of money involved in her matter is not stated for now but she is to be quizzed in relation to various contracts executed in Kwara State when her husband was governor of the state.”
The EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed to our correspondent that the commission had sent out invitations to some wives of former governors though he said he did not know their identities.
Meanwhile, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, in a statement has denied report linking his wife, Toyin Saraki, to a purported probe by the EFCC, describing it as a fabrication and an attempt to tarnish the image of his family.
Also on Wednesday, EFCC operators grilled ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s Senior Special Assistant on Schools and Agricultural Programmes, Baraka Sani.
Sani was reportedly interrogated by operatives of the commission at its headquarters for eight hours before she was allowed to go.
The former President’s aide was said to have been directed to report again at the commission in the early hours of Thursday (today) to answer further questions from her interrogators.
The former public officers said to be the target of the EFCC are former ministers, special advisers, senior special assistants, heads of parastatals and agencies in the previous administration.
Sani was the first aide of the former President to be quizzed by the EFCC.
It was gathered that the EFCC grilled her in relation to funds voted for schools agricultural programmes.
The commission is said to be working on the allegation that funds voted for schools agricultural programmes were diverted.
A source at the EFCC said, “Operatives of the commission today interrogated the Senior Special Assistant to the former President on Schools and Agricultural Programmes in relation to funds voted for the programmes.
“She is being quizzed for diversion of funds meant for the schools’ agricultural programmes.
“She came in the morning and spent eight hours before she was allowed to go. The interrogation has not ended because those in charge of the investigation asked her to return tomorrow (Thursday). So we are still expecting her.
Uwujaren confirmed to our correspondent on the telephone that Sani was at the commission’s headquarters on Wednesday.
“I can confirm that she was at the commission’s headquarters to answer questions for alleged financial impropriety,” the EFCC spokesman said. – Additional report from Punch.
