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As investigations into the arms procurement scandal continues, it has been learnt that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is planning to write former President Goodluck Jonathan because his name had consistently featured in the interrogation of some suspects.
Punch quoted an EFCC source as saying: “Although the commission will not invite the former President, we may write him to tell us his own side of the story because his name has been coming up in our investigations?”
The source, however, said the commission would need to seek “clearance” from President Muhammadu Buhari before such letter could be sent to Jonathan.
Meanwhile, the EFCC is also concluding arrangements to invite some chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party.
It was gathered on Sunday that the planned invitation of the PDP stalwarts was part of the ongoing investigations into the arms procurement scam and the party’s 2015 presidential campaign fund.
The newspaper wrote:
The top source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added that it was the operational procedure of the EFCC to invite all those whose names were mentioned in the process of the investigation.
He explained that those whose names were mentioned, such as the former Board of Trustees Chairman of the party, Chief Tony Anenih; a former Deputy National Chairman, Chief Bode George, and others, who were alleged to have received part of the funds meant for arms procurement, would be questioned.
The source stated that inviting those mentioned did not necessarily mean an indictment but part of the process of investigation designed to unearth the truth.
He added, “You see, this is an investigation. In a situation like this, the commission has a thin chance of not inviting those whose names have been thrown up.
“They have to be invited to make clarifications; it does not necessarily mean that they have been indicted but it is only a standard procedure for them to appear to make clarifications where necessary.
“I think by now, Anenih, Bode George and all those who were mentioned during the investigation should have been invited but the commission has not been given the directive to pick them up.
“They know what they are doing. Anytime from now, possibly this week, they will be invited.”