Saraki in
a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu,
stated that contrary to report published in an online medium, SaharaReporters,
he has never had anything to do with purchase of security equipment because in
his entire political career he never served in any committee or body which has
any link with Defence or National Security.
"As a
member of the Seventh Senate, Dr. Saraki was not a member of any of the
committees which have oversight function on the Ministry of Defence or the
intelligence and national security apparatus. If he was tagged the leader of
the opposition to the Jonathan administration, how then will he be privy to
Arms purchases and have the influence to blackmail any government agency or
institution over the release of funds.
"The
Senate President would like to alert members of the public to this new plot by
this particular online medium, SaharaReporters to tarnish his reputation as the
medium and its sponsors pursue the singular objective of removing him from the
office of the Senate President, an objective they have since failed to achieve
within and outside the National Assembly"
This time
around, SaharaReporters and its sponsors chose to drag the Senate President to
this reigning and current issue of arms purchase by insinuating that he once
blackmailed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to give him and other Senators
the sum of N250 million as a way of covering up the arbitrary withdrawal by the
NSA from the security fund approved by the former President.
First,
there is no logic in SaharaReporters’ claim as Dr. Saraki who was persecuted by
the last administration could not have had the influence and good standing to
walk up to the Central Bank to demand for any money having exposed many
atrocities of the past administration. Again, on what ground would the Senate
President blackmail anyone for 250 Million naira? It must be emphasized here
that Dr. Saraki will never engage in any sharp practice or issue which will
warrant him to blackmail any individual or government institution.
"Therefore
for record purposes, Dr. Saraki did not collect any money from any official of
the CBN in respect of any arms deal. The Senate President also challenge
SaharaReporters or any official of the apex bank, Senator, serving or past, who
witnessed or participated in any sharing of the alleged money purported to have
been received by him, to come out with evidence.
"It
should be recalled that SaharaReporters believe it can continue to disparage
and defame people claiming that it is operating outside the country. The medium
cannot operate above the law.
"This
same medium had falsely published the data page of a forged passport it
purportedly claimed belonged to Saraki. The Home Office in the United Kingdom
has since written to confirm that the said passport, does not belong to the
Senate President. Also, SaharaReporters once claimed that Saraki bribed some
judges using a former Chief Justice of Nigeria as a front. The claim has since
been proven to be false. Anybody who knows the reputation of the retired
Justice in question knows that he cannot be used to pervert the cause of
justice.
" It
also claimed that Saraki tried to cover up the case of $20 billion missing NNPC
fund and indeed collected “cash and gifts” from former President Goodluck
Jonathan through Mr. Gilbert Chagoury when in actual fact the Senate President
was the only member of the Senate committee who refused to sign the majority
report of the Makarfi committee because he disagreed with the report which he
believed did not address the matter. It is strange however that a man who
dissociated himself from the probe report because he believed it amounted to a
cover up was later accused by the same online medium as supporting attempts to
hide the issue of the missing funds. This is not only completely false, but
also a fiction concocted by SaharaReporters to defame Dr. Saraki.
"The
game being played by SaharaReporters and its sponsors is clear. As they have
done in previous cases involving the on-going trial of the Senate President at
the Code of Conduct Tribunal, they are targeting the Appeal at the Supreme
Court coming up on Thursday, December 3rd 2015. They want
to prejudice the Supreme Court as they have done when they blackmailed a judge
of the Federal High Court to withdraw from the case and also published false
reports, which compelled the Court of Appeal to postpone its judgment at the
last minute.
"Whatever
the motive of SaharaReporters, it is high time we employed the instrument of
the law to stop this act of impunity aimed at publishing false reports
believing the victims will not go to court or be frustrated by its dubious
claims that they are domiciled outside Nigeria.
" We
urge all Nigerians and other well-meaning individuals across the globe to
ignore this absolutely false claim by SaharaReporters. Like we earlier stated,
this false claim shall not go unchallenged. We shall meet in court.
“We have
allowed SaharaReporters enough latitude to indulge in their unscrupulous and
mischievous method of journalism. However, enough is enough. We have no option
than to commence legal action against Sahara Reporters in all relevant
jurisdictions, particularly on the issue of fake passport, false claim of
bribery and the recent one on blackmail, all aimed at tarnishing the image of
the Senate President.
“We need
to put an end to this concerted mischief of defaming the person and good
reputation of Senator Bukola Saraki. We will vigorously defend the integrity of
the Senate President. We believe law and global best practices should guide
these cyber-warriors. They have abused the docility of the law for too long.
Enough is enough.”
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