THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, vowed on Friday to take necessary steps to arrest and try former Kwara State Governor, Bukola Saraki, for several fraud-related cases.

The commission, apparently peeved by the refusal of the former governor to honour its invitation dated July 25, 2013, said that it would use all legitimate means to compel the Senator to honour its invitation.

The action of the anti-graft agency followed the denial by Saraki that he had not received any invitation from the commission over any fraud-related investigation.

The former governor, who now heads the Senate Committee on Environment, described his alleged refusal to honour EFCC summon to answer questions relating to his tenure at the Societe General Bank of Nigeria and at the Government House Ilorin for eight years, as a calculated attempt to tarnish his image.

Saraki said however that he would happily report to the agency once he was served with the invitation to do so, as he had nothing to hide about his tenure.

Saraki who spoke through his aide, Bamikole Omishore, said that he only got to know about his invitation on the pages of an Abuja-based newspaper and expressed surprise that the agency, which had been investigating him over the years had resorted to using such a medium to summon him.

Saraki said that there was nothing new for the EFCC to investigate about him, having carried out similar probe between 2010 and 2012 without finding anything incriminating against him and his administration.

The lawmaker said: "For the avoidance of doubt, those who have been following this unfolding drama will recall that the EFCC has been conducting investigations on the Senator between 2010 and 2012 without finding him wanting in any way.
"As regards SGBN, again this is not new, as investigation on this was done over 10 years ago and during the investigations Senator Saraki while governor of Kwara State waived his immunity to answer questions by EFCC officials in Lagos as regards his time at the bank.

But the Commission on Friday, faulted Saraki’s claim of not receiving its summon to appear before it on July 31, 2013 to answer questions on pending fraud-related matters.

The Spokesman for the commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed that Senator Saraki was invited through the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly by a letter dated July 25, 2013.

Uwujaren said, "Saraki was to report at Idiagbon House by 10 am on Wednesday July 31, 2013 but did not honour the invitation.

"The Senator has eight major matters pending before the EFCC and the commission will use all means within the ambit of the law to compel him to honour the invitation," he said.

A copy of the invitation letter, which was obtained by Saturday Vanguard on Friday, was signed by the EFCC Director of Operations, Mr Olaolu Adegbite and dated July 25, 2013 with reference No. CR: 3000/EFCC/ABJ/EG/VOL.12/97.

The letter was entitled "Investigation Activities on Senator Bukola Saraki" and addressed to the Clerk of the National Assembly.

Part of the invitation letter read: "The EFCC is investigating a case of fraud involving the above Distinguished Senator. We accordingly seek your kind assistance to release him to report to the undersigned at Idiagbon House, No 5 Fomella Street, Wuse 2, Abuja at 10 am on July 31, 2013 in furtherance of the investigation.

Thank you in anticipation of your usual cooperation, please," the commission said in the letter.

It was not clear as at the time of going to press if the former governor had acknowledged receipt of the invitation letter.