Saraki Threatens Lawsuit, Dissociates Self from Arms Deal

Senator Bukola Saraki, Nigeria’s Senate President has dissociated himself from the $2 Billion arms deal involving the immediate past National Security Adviser, Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd), and has threatened lashing out witha lawsuit against the online medium behind the said report.

Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu, Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to Saraki in a statement stated that contrary to report published in an online medium, he has never had anything to do with the purchase of security equipment because in his entire political career, he never served in any committee or body which has any link with Defence or national security.

“As a member of the Seventh Senate, Dr. Saraki was not a member of any of the committees which have oversight function on the Ministry of Defence or the intelligence and national security apparatus. If he was tagged the leader of the opposition to the Jonathan administration, how then will he be privy to Arms purchases and have the influence to blackmail any government agency or institution over the release of funds.

“The Senate President would like to alert members of the public to this new plot by this particular online medium, SaharaReporters to tarnish his reputation as the medium and its sponsors pursue the singular objective of removing him from the office of the Senate President, an objective they have since failed to achieve within and outside the National Assembly.”

This time around, SaharaReporters and its sponsors chose to drag the Senate President to this reigning and current issue of arms purchase by insinuating that he once blackmailed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to give him and other Senators the sum of N250 million as a way of covering up the arbitrary withdrawal by the NSA from the security fund approved by the former President.

The statement further asserted that, ”First, there is no logic in SaharaReporters’ claim as Dr. Saraki who was persecuted by the last administration could not have had the influence and good standing to walk up to the Central Bank to demand for any money having exposed many atrocities of the past administration. Again, on what ground would the Senate President blackmail anyone for 250 Million naira? It must be emphasized here that Dr. Saraki will never engage in any sharp practice or issue which will warrant him to blackmail any individual or government institution.

“Therefore, for record purposes, Dr. Saraki did not collect any money from any official of the CBN in respect of any arms deal.

The Senate President also challenge SaharaReporters or any official of the apex bank, Senator, serving or past, who witnessed or participated in any sharing of the alleged money purported to have been received by him, to come out with evidence.