The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says former Senator Shehu Sani, who is in its custody for alleged extortion, is facing criminal investigation and not being persecuted.
A statement on Friday by the anti-graft agency’s acting spokesman, Tony Orilade, said Sani has a ‘case to answer’ and that those defending him were driven by ignorance of the alleged offence.
The EFCC’s statement comes after a civil society organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), demanded Sani’s release and accused the agency of violating national and international laws with the ex-lawmaker’s detention.
“The EFCC has taken note of insinuations and phantom claims that it is `persecuting’ Senator Sani, because he is a known critic of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration,” the agency said.
“The commission wishes to state that Senator Sani is currently facing criminal investigation, and being detained by the EFCC in very conducive environment, based on a valid court order.
“Invariably, claims in some quarters of the breach of his fundamental human rights, are merely in the imagination of the purveyors of such claims.
“Let it be stated clearly that Senator Sani has questions to answer as regards the alleged involvement in name-dropping.
“Particularly that he obtained $25,000 from Alhaji Sani Dauda, the ASD Motors boss, in order to help shield him from investigations being carried out by the EFCC.”
Sani had also accused the Federal Government of trying to silence him, adding that the ‘bribery story is fake’.
Sani represented Kaduna Central at the eight Senate. His clash with Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna forced him out of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People’s Redemption Party (PRP) where he was unable to retain his seat at the 2019 general elections.
