It’s a set up – Sani’s aide
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested a former representative of Kaduna Central Senatorial District, Mr. Shehu Sani for allegedly extorting $10,000 from a businessman, Mr. Sani Dauda, owner of ASD Motors who has a case pending with the anti-graft agency.
Channels Television quoted Mr. Tony Amokeodo, spokesman for the acting chairman for the EFCC Mr. Ibrahim Magu in a statement as saying that Dauda, a popular car dealer in Kaduna, complained about Sani’s alleged activities who he claimed, collected the said sum on the grounds that he was close to the EFCC chief.
He added that Sani was being quizzed by the commission over the allegation of Magu’s name to scam suspects who have cases with the commission.
“The EFCC operators are quizzing him over the allegations of scamming some people and allegedly dropping the name of the EFCC boss before suspects who have cases with the commission.
“The senator was said to have told the complainant that he would resolve his case with the EFCC.
“He was said to have told the complainant that he discussed with the investigators who claimed that only the EFCC boss could resolve the matter.”
Amokeodo stated that the complainant said Senator Sani told him that he was close to the EFCC chairman and allegedly demanded $20,000 to pass to Magu in order to resolve the issue.
“But the complainant stated that he could only provide $10,000 and thereafter proceeded to write a cheque covering the amount.
“The cheque was allegedly presented to Bureau De Change operator who reportedly gave $10,000 equivalent to the senator – to settle the matter with the EFCC,” he said.
However, Sani’s aide said Mr. Suleiman Ahmed said the senator reported at the EFCC office in Abuja and was being questioned by the agency’s operatives.
“He was invited by the EFCC which was why he came to listen to the complaint against him and which is normal.
“All we know is that there was a business transaction that transpired between senator and him ASD. The senator wanted to buy a Peugeot 508 executive and was making part payment.
“An invoice was given to him as well as an account number by ASD to make deposit. So we were all surprised when we heard that ASD filed a complained at EFCC alleging 7.2 million naira extortion.”
He said Sani must have been set up, asking, “How can Senator Shehu Sani extort mere N7.2m from somebody like ASD?
“The point here is that we are thinking that somebody somewhere instigated ASD to go against senator since he once visited him over his daughter’s case,” he said.
