26th April, 2012
Nnamdi Felix / Abuja
Justice Gladys Olotu of a Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Thursday rapped former governor of Kwara state and presently the Senator representing the Kwara Central senatorial district over claims that the court had granted an order restraining the Inspector General of Police from investigating him over alleged conspiracy,forgery and stealing of N21billion belonging to Joy Petroleum Ltd.
The court was miffed by the misrepresentation of the fact by the embattled senator and expressed displeasure by the development.
Saraki had through his counsel, Lawal Rabana, a senior advocate of Nigeria, approached the court seeking to stop the police from arresting , investigating and prosecuting him but the court had declined to make such order and had advised the senior lawyer to put the police on notice.
Senator Saraki’s aide, Mr. Akintoba Fatigun, however issued a press release in Ilorin where he falsely claimed that the court had granted an order restraining the police from arresting his principal.
At Thursday’s proceedings, the Inspector General of Police, represented by fiery Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, brought a counter affidavit opposing the embattled Senator Saraki’s motion.
In the counter affidavit, the Inspector General of Police through Mr. Akinbayo Olasoji, a stated Superintendent of Police in the Special Fraud Unit, stated that Saraki used his office while in office as the governor of Kwara state, to influence the purchase of Joy Petroleum Ltd, Dicetrade Ltd and Likam Nig Ltd stocks by the Kwara State ministry of finance and used his personal properties to guarantee loans taken by the companies.
He further stated that among the names in the documentations at the Bank included the wife of Saraki, Toyin and the former commissioner of finance who is currently the state governor, Abdufattah Ahmed.
The Inspector General of Police noted that in view of the findings made by the Police and in line with its statutory duty, had commenced investigation into the role and activities of Saraki in the company by inviting him to assist the said investigation by stating his position in respect of the findings.
A letter of invitation dated 3rd April was directed to the Senator to appear before investigators in Lagos which he ignored and rushed to the Federal High Court in Abuja where he sought for an order stopping the Police from inviting, interrogating and arresting him over the alleged crime.
The police therefore prayed the court to dismiss Saraki’s application and direct him to submit himself to the police to aid investigation into the alleged crime in the interest of justice.
Senator Saraki’s lawyer appealed to the court to allow him time to respond to the weighty averrements in the counter affidavit, the court obliged him and subsequently adjourned till 22nd May for hearing of the motion.