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OBASANJO’S LETTER: Timing of Babachir’s invitation a mere coincidence- EFCC

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EFCC chases corrupt Nigerians to banks

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has stated that there was no connection between the detention of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s explosive letter to President Muhammadu Buhari, as widely speculated.

Acting Spokesman of the commission, Samin Amaddin, said in Abuja on Friday that both incidents were a mere coincidence.

Lawal was invited and detained by the commission Wednesday, about 24 hours after Obasanjo accused Buhari of nepotism, citing protection of close allies from prosecution for alleged corruption.

The timing of the EFCC’s action on the long-delayed Babachir move prompted insinuations by many that the government was desperately trying to save face or divert attention from the trending issues generated by Obasanjo’s letter.

But Amaddin dismissed the insinuations, saying Lawal was invited by the commission long before the former president issued his statement.

Read also: Pro-Buhari group slams Obasanjo, says his letter an open confrontation against the North

“When we are doing investigation, we don’t have a fixed time. Those speculating should have realised that several contractors are involved in this matter, and they were all invited, even banks.

“We have been working on this case since May 2017, so it is not a thing that just cropped up.

“We are neither a political party nor politicians. We don’t have any relationship with what they are talking about. We are just doing our work.

“If the detention coincides with the letter, that is a different thing. Why are those talking not linking other people we have been inviting with Obasanjo’s letter?’’

Asked whether the commission had a court warrant to detain him beyond the 48 hours prescribed by law, the spokesman said the commission’s legal team was “taking care of that’’.

“We are aware of the law, and the legal team must have taken care of that,’’ he said.

 

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