The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has reacted to statement by Senate President Bukola Saraki accusing the agency of ‘witch-hunting’.

He stated that the commission was asked to go after him on a witch-hunt exercise by political opponents seeking to settle scores.

Responding to Saraki’s allegations that the ongoing probe was a witch hunt, EFCC said it had hard evidence to probe Saraki.

The acting EFCC spokesman, Tony Orilade, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, said Saraki was not above the law, noting that the Commission was obligated by law “to enthrone probity and accountability in the governance space, a duty it claimed to have pursued without ill-will or malice against anyone.”

The Commission added that it possessed indicting petitions and other evidence against the Senate President, stressing that “putting him through a legitimate forensic inquiry was the legitimate route to establish his integrity as a public servant.”

The statement added that, “It is in the interest of the public, and for Saraki’s personal good, that he is not only above board, but be seen at all times to be so.

“Indeed, all the instances in which the EFCC have had cause to sleuth into his financial activities either as a former governor or President of the Senate were driven by over-arching public interest and due process of the law.

“Against the background of the possession of indicting petitions and other evidence available to the EFCC, even Saraki will agree with the Commission that putting him through a legitimate forensic inquiry is the legitimate route to establish his integrity as a public servant.

“We have the mandate to rid the country of corruption and corrupt elements, no matter whose ox is gored.”