Alleged corruption: I’ll respond to your letter in a formal manner,Saraki tells OBJ

I ‘ve not seen the letter,can’t comment now–Senate spokesman

By Henry Umoru & Joseph Erunke

ABUJA–SENATE President,Bukola Saraki,Wednesday,acknowledged receipt of a letter from former President Olusegun Obasanjo,drawing his attention to alleged corruption in the National Assembly.


But Saraki,who said he was still studying the letter hinted that he would formally write a reply to the former president in no time.

This came as the Senate spokesman,Aliyu Sabi, feigned ignorance of the presence of the letter in the Red Chamber just as he said he would not comment on it until his attention was drawn to the letter.

The Senate President,responding to inquiry on whether he was in receipt of the letter, confirmed that the said letter was presently on his table.

Speaking through his Special Adviser,Media and Publicity,Yusuph Olaniyonu, Saraki,insisted that he would officially communicate the former president on the issues he raised.

“The Senate President has acknowledged that he has received the letter and that he would formally communicate the former president,”Olaniyonu said.

But the Senate spokesman, Aliyu Sabi claimed that he was not aware of the said letter to the Senate President.

He, however, said if there was to be a letter, it would be communicated to senators through the Senate President,adding that he would speak when such was done.

“As far as I am concerned, I am not aware of any letter to the Senate President from the former president,so I cannot comment on what I am not aware of.

“We have a constitution on this country and any communication to the National Assembly must follow the laid-down rules,so like I said, when I am informed of the said letter,I can now speak,”he told Vanguard.

The former president is said to have written the National Assembly,through the Senate President,Bukola Saraki, accusing the lawmakers of corruption, impunity and greed.

The former president specifically accused the lawmakers of fixing and earning salaries and allowances far above what the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, approved for them.