Saraki reacts as N12m goes missing from his house

Senate president Bukola Saraki has described the publication on Sahara Reporters about a burglary in his Ilorin home as one with series of falsehood. Sahara Reporters last night reported that Saraki’s domestic aides had made away with N300 million from the senator’s bedroom in Ilorin, capital of Kwara state. But in a statement signed by the Senate president’s media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, the lawmaker described the report that his domestic aides were responsible for the theft as untrue; adding that the perpetrators were yet to be identified. READ ALSO: Senate urges FG to approve funds for Shikira, others According to him, burglars stormed his country home in Ilorin and carted away N12 million as against the N300million reported by Sahara Reporters. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Senate president Bukola Saraki has described the publication on SaharaReporters about a burglary in his Ilorin home as one with falsehood. He said the incident happened two weeks ago as the N12million was stolen by some unknown persons inside the Administrative Office located next door to the house, Premium Times reports. However, Olaniyonu did not disclose why the Senate president, who is being prosecuted for false asset declaration, needed that much cash in his house, but said the money was not public funds. READ ALSO: CCT: Saraki’s trial stalled over absence of witness Olaniyonu’s statement read: “The report yesterday by SaharaReporters about a burglary in the Ilorin home of Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki contained series of falsehood and at best an exaggeration of an incident which happened two weeks ago in which N12 million was stolen by some unknown persons inside the Administrative Office located next door to the house. “The unknown persons broke into the safe in the Administrative Office and stole the N12 million. The incident had since been reported to the police and the Kwara state police command are investigating the matter with a view to nail the culprits. “There is therefore no truth in the claim by SaharaReporters that the money ran into hundreds of millions, that it was in foreign currency or that the incident happened in Dr. Saraki’s room. The amount was simply in Naira. Also, the money has nothing to do with Kwara state government. “For the umpteenth time, we need to reiterate the fact that SaharaReporters’ fixation that any money spent by Saraki or that is in his possession is from Kwara state government is unfounded, unwarranted, lacks any basis and irresponsible. “We wonder whether Saraki was such a poor man before 2003 when he was elected Governor that he could no longer own any money without SaharaReporters attributing the source to the State Government. “In its usual unethical and disgraceful haste to assassinate the Character of the Senate President, SaharaReporters ignored the simple professional practice for it to contact the Police to find out the facts of the incident. It merely created its own usually fictional story and published it. This is an online publication that cares not about its credibility or the journalism credo that facts are sacred and opinion is free. “We call on all members of the public to ignore all the claims in the story. Dr. Saraki will allow the police to do their work and unravel the person or persons behind this theft in the Administrative Office.” Meanwhile, Saraki finally had an opportunity to fire at the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday, May 31, as he accused the agency of focusing attention on harassment of government officials instead of investigating alleged corrupt practices at the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Saraki said Nigeria was only paying lip-service to the fight against corruption.