There is a new twist in the face-off between the police and the senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki as the former have now asked the latter to respond to allegations levelled against him in writing, as opposed to appearing at the force intelligence response team office in Abuja.
The police had, on Sunday, said they invited the senate president to respond to allegations by five of the suspects arrested in connection with the Offa bank robberies in which 30 persons, including nine policemen, lost their lives.
While parading the suspects in Abuja, Jimoh Moshood, police spokesman, said Saraki’s alleged links to them would be investigated.
Saraki had denied the allegation and indicated interest in honouring the invitation of the police.
On Monday, he sent his aide de camp to get the letter of invitation from the police.
But a source at the force headquarters said the senate president had been asked not to appear before the police but to respond in writing within 48 hours.
“Police have backtracked. Instead of inviting the senate president, they have now said he should respond in writing within 48 hours.
This is as a result of pressure from international groups and human rights organisations. They have backtracked from an invitation in person to responding within 48 hours,” said the source said.
Saraki also confirmed that the police authorities had changed their mind and demanded a written response instead of a physical appearance.
“Following my earlier tweet, I have received the letter from @PoliceNG,” Saraki tweeted. “They are no longer asking me to appear at any station, but to respond in writing to the allegations within 48 hours — which I plan to do”.