By Ruth Oginyi
A former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, on Wednesday, denied being invited or detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He also noted that he was not at the anti-graft agency office for corruption as being speculated on the media.
Anyim, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, had gone to EFCC’s headquarters in Abuja on Sunday and returned on Tuesday evening over a petition on financial fraud in which his name was mentioned in the said petition.
In a statement signed by his Media Adviser, Sam Nwaobasi, the erstwhile SGF maintained that he voluntarily went to EFCC when he got information that some suspects being investigated by the anti-graft agency over fraud mentioned his name.
According to him, he was at the EFCC to clarify where his name was mentioned and that an officer at the EFCC office agreed that he should come for the clarification.
The statement read, “We have been inundated with inquiries from friends, associates, PDP faithful, and the general public about media reports since Sunday the 24th of October 2021 on Senator Anyim’s detention by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC, which according to the reports was ‘as part of an investigation in a case of alleged corruption and diversion of public funds.’
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“It has therefore become necessary to put the record straight on what went on between Sunday the 24th to Tuesday the 26th of October as follows:
“Senator Anyim got information that some persons invited by the EFCC in connection with some matter it was investigating mentioned his name in the statement made to the EFCC. Determined, as always, to ensure that the truth prevails, Senator Anyim reached out to the officer handling the matter and offered, of his own volition, to come over to the EFCC to clarify any issues around which his name was mentioned. The officer was delighted and they agreed to meet in his office at the EFCC by 3 PM on Sunday the 24th of October, 2021.
“At the agreed time Senator Anyim arrived at the EFCC office. He was never invited by the EFCC. After his engagement, during which Senator Anyim was as candid as could be, to his utter surprise, he was told he would not be going home that day. By the next day, the EFCC gave the conditions for his release which were met promptly.
“It took up to Tuesday the 26th for EFCC to complete their processes after which he was allowed to go home. Senator Anyim, as a law-abiding citizen, will always submit himself to any process required by any agency of the government in the discharge of its duties.
“Senator Anyim, though not disturbed or worried by his encounter with the EFCC, after all, he went to their office by himself, has however noted some reports in some social media platforms that deliberately distorted the facts just to call his integrity to question.
“Senator Anyim remains steadfast in his commitment to join hands with men and women of goodwill to unite, heal and advance the cause of our dear country Nigeria and will continue to offer himself and services to the pursuit of same, notwithstanding the blackmail, falsehood, misinformation, and misrepresentation that some opportunists will seek to make out of such episodes like his recent encounter with the EFCC.
“Senator Anyim is very humbled and touched by the spontaneous responses and concern shown by his numerous friends, associates, supporters, especially PDP faithful and the general public. He believes that together we shall all build a better Nigeria”, the statement said.
