Former Senate President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim, has explained the reasons behind his visit to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his media adviser, Sam Nwaobasi, Anyim was not arrested but voluntarily went to the commission to clarify his role in a petition which is under investigation.
According to the statement, Anyim was mentioned in connection with some N780million, diverted by Senator Stella Oduah when she was the Minister for Aviation.
Recall that on Sunday, the former Senate President was grilled for several hours in connection with the fund which was traced to a company in which he was a director.
The statement reads, “We have been inundated with inquiries from friends, associates, Peoples Democratic Party faithful and the general public with regard to media reports since Sunday the 24th of October 2020, on Senator Anyim’s detention by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, which according to the reports “was part of an investigation in a case of an alleged corruption and diversion of public funds.” 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 person invited by the EFCC, in connection with some matter it was investigating, mentioned his name in the statement made to the EFCC.[story_link align="left"]100450[/story_link]
“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 3pm 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 the EFCC to complete the 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.
“He believes that together, we shall all build a better Nigeria."