Kaduna Reps Member, Denies EFCC Arrest Allegation

By Alex Uangbaoje, Kaduna

The Representative of Kaduna North, at Lower Chamber of the National Assembly, Hon. Samaila Suleiman has dismissed report linking him to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on an allegation of financial fraud, published by an online believed to be the Hausa version of Leadership Newspaper, known as ‘Leadership ayau’ on Wednesday.

Hon. Samaila, while reacting to questions from newsmen at the office of the EFCC, in Kaduna on Thursday evening, said, he was at the EFCC’s office to find out if they actually came for his arrest as reported by Leadership ayau.

There were media reports published on Thursday by Leadership ayau that the EFCC, stormed the residence of the legislator, at Rafin Guza in kawo new extension, in Kaduna, after he failed to appear before it after series of invitations to answer some questions over allegations of financial fraud.

This Samaila, denied, saying, “I read a media report today that EFCC came to my house, ransacked it and arrested my staff, so I came here to ask if it true, and if yes, why? And what I have been able to establish from the EFCC, is that it is not true.

“I thing it is a cheap political statement, because nobody entered my house and none of my staff was arrested. It is political season and I suspect it’s political.”

Meanwhile, a group, APC Solidarity Forum in a statement signed by the Chairman, Hafiz Kujama disclosed that the purported invasion of the legislator’s resident was not just a lie unprofessionally told, but a result of a failed attempt to extort money from the Rep member through blackmail.

The Forum, noted that, the lawmaker’s visit to the EFCC office earlier today has corroborated the fact that the story was false and malicious.

They accused the publisher of the report of a failed attempt to extort money through blackmail by the unethical means which was resisted by Honourable Suleiman.

They disclosed that already one of the staff of the online media, who used telephone numbers of some anonymous callers to be demanding Suleiman’s aide, Malam Rabi’u to send them some cash or they give their boss some bad press with a purported EFCC raid news has been arrested.

The statement reads in full;

“It has come to our notice that a shamelessly fabricated fake story is being circulated about a purported invasion of the residence of the member representing Kaduna North Federal Constituency in the House of Reps, Hon Samaila Suleiman by EFCC personnel.

“This unfounded and baseless story emanated from the publication of an obscure social media outlet called ‘Leadership ayau’ which was never heard of before now.

“The only recognized and reputable Hausa version of a newspaper that very closely has a similar title is ‘Leadership Hausa’ which has already distanced its reputation from the ‘fake leadership ayau’ .

“While the caption of the concocted story on the blog is not credited to any correspondent or reporter, details of the report can also not be substantiated on many faces.

“First, the unprofessionally packaged report claimed that the Hon Member refuse to honor the EFCC which he denied flatly.

“Hon Suleiman is a respectable law abiding citizen and a serving law maker of the Federal Republic, who moves about and associates freely in contradiction of the shameful report that suggests he is at large and wanted by the EFCC or any security agency for that matter.

“He is always sighted around his constituents holding political meetings, attending condolences, weddings, and participating in several programmes for Youths and Women, and other developmental initiatives.

“Another opaque lie in the story was the detention and interrogation of his domestic staff, whereas the entire domestic staff in the Honourable’s residence are not aware of any invasion by any arm of the law.

“What is not in doubt is the chats and text messages from some dubious people attempted to blackmail the Hon Member into paying to avoid the publication of what they claimed to be a story capable of denting his name and political status. This was outright resisted on the firm conviction that is not under any investigation and has not committed any crime(s) as he is always available either in his constituency or at the National Assembly.

“Evidence of the chats are available and would be forwarded to the police for appropriate steps to be taken in bringing whoever might be behind this mischief to book.

“Meanwhile, the general public is hereby urged to disregard such misleading information that has no basis and from an unknown source, while reaffirming the Hon Member’s capabilities and willingness to responsibly continue to represent Kaduna North Federal Constituency and campaign for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and Gov Nasir El-rufai in the 2019 elections.”

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