PARIS CLUB REFUND: Falana urges EFCC to prosecute Saraki, others

Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to without delay recover the stolen London/Paris loan refund money and immediately prosecute all indicted suspects involved in the loot.

Senate president, Bukola Saraki was reported indicted in the scam by the EFCC in a report the agency submitted to the presidency.

The lawyer described the alleged criminal diversion of the sum of N19billion out of the loan refund through the account of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) as the height of impunity, especially as “there is no statutory nexus between the friendly club of state governors and the Federation Account”.

Falana further decried the alleged trace of N3.5billion of the stolen fund to Saraki and his close associates, criticising why the Senate President in his defence would say his alleged involvement in the crime was “mudslinging” by the EFCC.

The human rights layer stated this in a statement he released on Friday.

The statement read, “In spite of the official pressure and blackmail mounted by a clique of power mongers on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission it is commendable that that the anti-graft agency was able to conduct a detailed investigation into the looting of the N522 billion London/Paris Loan Refund paid to the 36 states and local 774 governments in the country.

“The alleged criminal diversion of the sum of N19 billion out of the loan refund through the account of the Nigeria Governors Forum is the height of impunity as there is no statutory nexus between the friendly club of state governors and the Federation Account.

Read also: POST-REJECTION WAR: Saraki fights back as Magu indicts him in N19bn Paris Club scam

“Once again, out of the stolen fund the sum of N3.5 billion is alleged to have been traced to the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and his close associates. In a dodgy and watery defence of his alleged involvement in a malfeasance that is akin to a crime against humanity Dr. Saraki has described his indictment as ‘mudslinging.’

“However, since the investigation of the monumental fraud had been concluded before the recent rejection of Mr. Magu as EFCC chairman by the Senate the resort to vulgar abuse by the Senate president is diversionary and escapist. In any case whether it is mudslinging or not Dr. Saraki has not denied the fact that the N3.5 billion traced to him forms part of the N19 billion located in 15 frozen bank accounts.

“Therefore, in view of the gravity of the criminal offence arising from the looting of the London/Paris loan refund the EFCC should recover the stolen money and ensure that all the indicted suspects are charged to court without any further delay.”

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