Court Injunction may impede ongoing corruption investigations
As the race for the president of the 10thSenate gather momentum, an aspirant in the Democratic Caucus of the Senators- Elect, Senator-Elect Abdul-Aziz Yari has ran to the judiciary to prevent his re-arrest by EFCC and other anti-corruption agencies for corruption cases he was linked with as well as emerging money laundering investigation into his reckless spending pursuant of his ambition.
Recall that Justice Donatus Okorowo of the Abuja Division of Federal High has barred the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offenses Commission, ICPC as well as Directorate of State Services, DSS, from arresting Senator Yari under their investigation pending the hearing and determination of an exparte suit he filed before the court.
Sources familiar with the investigations by EFCC stated that the ongoing investigation of the N81 billion fraud by former Accountant General of the Federation, Ahmed Idris in which Senator -Elect Yari was linked and previously arrested but released on bail is still pending with more information coming to light of the role of Yari and his associate, one Anthony Yaro of Finex Professional Services believed to be a front to collect N20 billion of the looted fund.
“In addition to new revelations on this massive fraud at the Accountant General of the Federation Office for which some refund has been made, in the EFCC investigations of the ex-governor of Zamfara State, Mr.
Bello Matawale, the names of Yari has resurfaced in some massive looting of the resources of that poor state under his watch as governor that we need to further investigate.
We are making efforts to locate him for further interrogation. With the court order that we read in the newspapers, we may need our Legal Department opinion on what to do” said the source that want to remain anonymous as he is not authorize to publicly comment on the sensitive case.
In similar manner, the ICPC was about to invite Senator-Elect Yari for his role in the fraud of Paris Club Refund to governors when he was the Chairman of the Governor’s Forum for which about N500million and $500,000 has been forfeited to the Federal Government.
“The Senator Elect from Zamfara West is a subject of inquiry in our office. Beyond the Paris Club Refund Looting, we are also investigating the disclosure that Yari spent at least $700,000 of the N20billion in Saudi Arabia on a trip for lesser hajj” an ICPC source disclosed on why he may have approached the court to prevent his invitation.
Aside from running to the court to frustrate his imminent re-arrest, Yari is also reportedly planning to go underground in the coming days to prevent possible arrest for questioning days before the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly.