Date: 2012-04-20

Former Kwara State governor, Dr. Bukola Saraki yesterday denied insinuations that he was involved in the death one of his former aides while also dismissing the reported investigations of his alleged business deals with embattled Intercontinental Bank Plc.

A national newspaper (not Nigerian Compass) published yesterday reports that a former Managing Director of the bank was being held over a petition related to a loan linked with the ex-governor alleging that Saraki was instrumental to the death of one of his aides who allegedly had an inkling into the deal.

But in a statement issued in Ilorin, and signed by Saraki's media aide, Akintoba Fatigun, the former governor lamented that all the issues in the petition had been thrashed out twice; first while he was in office and also during his presidential campaigns. He claimed that at the two instances, nothing was found against him.

The statement reads: "The attention of Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki's media office has been drawn to a media report titled "Police Nab Former managing Director of intercontinental Bank, Alhaji Layi Alabi over Bank loan fraud relating to Senator Saraki",

"We are aware that there is a petition that was submitted by the brother to Senator Saraki's former Personal Assistant Matthew Obahor of blessed memory to the special anti-fraud unit of Nigerian police over a company called Joy Petroleum. We want to categorically state that Senator Saraki is not and was never a shareholder of any Joy Petroleum company; the company was that of his former Personal Assistant, Late Matthew Obahor.

"Unlike it is being insinuated that Matthew was assassinated under questionable circumstances, we want to state categorically that Matthew was a diagnosed diabetic who was flown to different parts of the world by Senator Saraki for treatment but later gave up his battle to diabetics after 10 years of battle. He died in 2010 through diabetic coma in a hospital. Records are available which can support this.

"We are also aware that the matter relating to loans with Intercontinental Bank which was thoroughly investigated and thrashed out by all appropriate authorities years back after receiving all manner of investigation. It should be recalled that it reoccurred during Senator Saraki's presidential bid and again thrashed out and we are once again surprised it is resurfacing.

"The attempt to link this baseless petition to Senator Saraki is purely a blackmail and character assassination; it is surprising that we are coming back to this again in 2012 which is a distraction and the timing is very questionable. Senator Saraki continues to reassure his constituents and country that he will play his legislative role even at this crucial time of our polity," the statement said.