Alleged N73.5billion Senate Funds: Saraki Sets Records Straight on Retired 8th Assembly’s Allocations

Malik Yahya/

Former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, has debunked allegations raised in a media report that he and other members of the 8^th Senate failed to retire N73.5billion running cost then.

Reacting to the allegation published by Daily Trust Newspaper, Saraki’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Yusuph Olaniyonu, says in a statement issued today: “We deem it necessary to put the record straight and correct the wrong impression created by the newspaper by stating that before leaving office on June 6, 2019, Dr Saraki duly retired all funds allocated as running cost to his office as President of the Senate between June 2015 and May 2019.

“We also wish to state categorically and with emphasis that the National Assembly management equally issued a Certificate of Retirement in acknowledgement of the fact that Dr Saraki has fully complied with relevant laws, rules and regulations in respect of the use and retirement of such funds.”

The statement reads in full: “The attention of the  Media Office of the Former President of the Senate, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki has been drawn to a front-page story in today’s edition of Daily Trust (Sept. 24, 2019), with the headline: ‘8th Assembly: Saraki, Ekweremadu, others failed to retire N73.5bn running cost.’

“We deem it necessary to put the record straight and correct the wrong impression created by the newspaper by stating that before leaving office on June 6, 2019, Dr Saraki duly retired all funds allocated as running cost to his office as President of the Senate between June 2015 and May 2019.

“We also wish to state categorically and with emphasis that the National Assembly management equally issued a Certificate of Retirement in acknowledgement of the fact that Dr Saraki has fully complied with relevant laws, rules and regulations in respect of the use and retirement of such funds.

“We believe that if the Daily Trust reporter had diligently investigated the issue and raised the right questions in the right quarters,  he would have been availed the facts concerning the former Senate President.

“It is, therefore, misleading and mischievous for the newspaper to allege that Sen. Saraki has failed to retire the running cost allocated to his office as President of the eight Senate.

“We expect that such a news story would have been properly investigated and full facts obtained before rushing to press. 

“We will like to recall that the story under reference merely signifies the negative, misleading unverified and inaccurate reporting by a section of the press against Dr Saraki, with the intention of portraying him and the 8th Senate in a negative way to the public. Fortunately, the public is now better informed. Thus, we advise that instead of carrying  on along these old lines, your newspaper should focus on the issues that affect the lives of the people and how to find solutions to the multifarious challenges facing the country.” 

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