The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC has denied reports that the controversial letter former Presient Olusegun Obasanjo sent to President Buhari, berating his government, facilitated the arrest of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF, Babachir Lawal.
Obasanjo in his letter accused President Buhari of selectively fighting corruption. He made reference to the case of Babachir who had been indicted in a N200 million IDP camp fraud who had been dismissed but not arrested.
The timing of EFCC arresting the former SGF sparked speculation by some Nigerians that the government is either trying to divert attention from Mr. Obasanjo’s statement or appease the former leader.
Reacting to the speculation, the acting spokesperson of the antigraft agency, Samin Amaddin, in an interview with NAN, said the former president’s letter had nothing to do with the arrest of the former SGF.
When we are doing investigation, we don’t have a fixed time.
Those speculating should have realised that several contractors are involved in this matter, and they were all invited, even banks.
We have been working on this case since May 2017, so it is not a thing that just cropped up. We are neither a political party nor politicians.
We don’t have any relationship with what they are talking about. We are just doing our work. If the detention coincides with the letter, that is a different thing. Why are those talking not linking other people we have been inviting with Obasanjo’s letter?’’ he said
