Count Me out of N60 Billion Arms Deal Scam –Saraki Cries Out

Posted by African Examiner Featured, Latest Headlines, News Wednesday, December 2nd, 2015

Ayodele Afolabi, Abuja

Senate President, Bukola Saraki, hadissociated himself from the N60bn arms deal involving the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), declaring that he should be counted out of the deal.

Saraki in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, said that, contrary to report published in an online medium, he had never had anything to do with purchase of security equipment.

He said he had never served in any committee or body which has any link with Defence or national security, in his entire political career

The statement reads in part, “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, 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, the medium 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 to give him and other Senators, N250m 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 the claim as 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 N250m? It must be emphasized here that 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, Saraki did not collect any money from any official of the CBN in respect of any arms deal.”

The Senate President also challenge the onlije medium 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 the online medium believe it can continue to disparage and defame people claiming that it is operating outside the country. The medium cannot operate above the law.”, the statement added.

Saraki said it was time that the nation employed the instrument of the law to stop any 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.

He said, ” 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.”

He threatened to drag the management of the online to court if they continue to publish any falsehood against him.

He said, “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.”