A former governor of Sokoto state has escaped being taken captive by the EFCC as the anti-corruption body lays siege on his house.
A former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, has escaped arrest after about three hours siege on his Usuma Street, Abuja residence by the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
According to Premium Times, the operatives of the anti-graft commission, supported by armed mobile policemen, lined up along the street and surrounded his house as early as 6am on Thursday.
A credible source at the anti-graft commission who pleaded anonymity confirmed the raid, saying “it was a botched attempt to arrest Bafarawa” because Mr. Bafarawa, who left Nigeria for Saudi Arabia two weeks ago, is currently in the United States on vacation.
Mr. Bafarawa and 15 others, mostly his aides while he was a governor, have been facing trial since they left office in 2007 for alleged misappropriation of public funds totalling N15billion.
However, the former governor’s spokesman, Yusuf Dingyadi, alleges that the siege on Mr. Bafarawa’s residence was a political persecution against perceived opponents of the ruling party.
Mr. Dingyadi said the persecution of his principal was a witch-hunt as the anti-corruption agency could not establish a case against Mr. Bafarawa for eight years.
He said Mr. Bafarawa would soon be back in Nigeria to strategise on the forthcoming local government election in Sokoto State.
According to Premium Times, the operatives of the anti-graft commission, supported by armed mobile policemen, lined up along the street and surrounded his house as early as 6am on Thursday.
A credible source at the anti-graft commission who pleaded anonymity confirmed the raid, saying “it was a botched attempt to arrest Bafarawa” because Mr. Bafarawa, who left Nigeria for Saudi Arabia two weeks ago, is currently in the United States on vacation.
Mr. Bafarawa and 15 others, mostly his aides while he was a governor, have been facing trial since they left office in 2007 for alleged misappropriation of public funds totalling N15billion.
However, the former governor’s spokesman, Yusuf Dingyadi, alleges that the siege on Mr. Bafarawa’s residence was a political persecution against perceived opponents of the ruling party.
Mr. Dingyadi said the persecution of his principal was a witch-hunt as the anti-corruption agency could not establish a case against Mr. Bafarawa for eight years.
He said Mr. Bafarawa would soon be back in Nigeria to strategise on the forthcoming local government election in Sokoto State.
