The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission 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.
Mrs Dakingari, The PUNCH learnt on Wednesday, 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, the EFCC operators on Wednesday 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, The PUNCH learnt, 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 PUNCH had reported exclusively on Tuesday that the EFCC
had concluded plans to embark on a probe of officials of the Jonathan
administration.
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.
Copyright PUNCH.
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