BUKOLA Saraki, Senate President, has told the Nigeria Police that he will not honour its invitation to turn himself in for questioning on his alleged implication of Offa robbery attack.
Mr Saraki, instead told the police to send its personnel to his office to question him. He gave the response in a latter dated July 24 to the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
A robbery attack on multiple banks in April took place at Offa, Kwara State. Suspects arrested for the crime implicated the top legislator.
He was earlier invited to appear in person at the force headquarters in June. The approach was later withdrawn and he was told to tender his explanation in writing which he did.
The latest police summon which ordered him to turn himself in on Tuesday was issued late Monday.
There was, however, a siege by security operatives including police officers on Mr Saraki’s convoy on Tuesday morning as well as on the home of Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
The siege is believed to be a ploy to prevent both presiding officers from reaching the Senate; and allow for their replacement by senators loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari.
When Saraki got hold of what was about to happen he outplayed the police into believing he was in his convoy whereas his was physical present at the National Assembly where he performed his conditional duty which saw Senators decamp to their preferred political parties. He did not honour the invitation.
The Nigerian police later on Tuesday frowned at Mr Saraki’s failure to appear as directed and threatened to make him face the consequence if he does not.
Mr Saraki’s response to the police letter of Monday has been published by Premium Times. In it indication emerged that was not going to honour the summon by the police. Saraki’s response was clearly written after the Tuesday’s Senate sitting.
“You will recall that Mr. President had earlier directed as a courtesy to this office, that in the event of any request for further information from me, you should either send your personnel to my office or obtain a written response from me,” he told the police chief.
“I request you therefore, to please assign your personnel who need information on this matter, to meet me in my office, immediately after plenary today, or tomorrow or any other day at your convenience,” he wrote in the letter.
Mr Saraki also expressed concern about his safety following Tuesday’s siege by security
Read the full letter below:
RE: LETTER OF INVITATION
I wish to acknowledge your letter, ref CR: 3000/IGPSEC/ABJ/VOL.,131/707, dated 23rd of July 2018.
For the record, I should mention that received your letter at8:30pm on Monday 23rd July, inviting me for the next day at 8am. The two lawyers whose advice I needed were in Calabar and Lagos and had to travel to Abuja today.
As you are aware, the Deputy President of the Senate was unable to leave his residence this morning to preside over the senate having being prevented from doing so by security agents. If he had been able to preside over the senate, I would have honoured your invitation. The absence of both presiding officers would have voided the sitting of the senate.
This would have been damaging to National interest, particularly in the light of very important legislative matters that needed to be addressed in view of the imminent recess of the National Assembly. These included consideration of the Electoral Bill, which was incidentally passed today.
You will recall that Mr. President had earlier directed as a courtesy to this office, that in the event of any request for further information from me, you should either send your personnel to my office or obtain a written response from me.
I need to place on record as well, that following the incident of being harassed and threatened at my residence by the police early this morning, I am deeply concerned over my physical security.
I request you therefore, to please assign your personnel who need information on this matter, to meet me in my office, immediately after plenary today, ortomorrow or any other day at your convenience.
Thank you.
