From Fred Itua, Abuja
The Legal and Investigative unit of the Civil Society Central Coordinating Council (CCC) is planning to file a mandamus suit to compel the anti-graft agency, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to arrest and investigate Former Zamfara Governor and Senator-elect Yari and serving House of Representatives member, Aliyu Betara, over alleged money laundering and other financial crimes.
The CCC in a statement by the unit head, Maxwell Aleto, is specifically seeking a court order for EFCC, police, and DSS to probe their source of funds and expenditures.
The CCC is also seeking a court order to allow security agencies to search the duo’s houses and offices and that of their associates.
The statement reads: “Betara who represents Biu/Bayo/Shani federal constituency is the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Appropriation. He’s one of the G7 aggrieved speakership aspirants plotting to go against the rules of their party. Reports on the streets are that Betara and Yari are allegedly throwing money around and trying to use that to compromise lawmakers.
“It’s really sad that when the nation is in need of competent leadership, people with questionable income and character are trying to be in leadership positions. In particular, Former Zamfara Governor Abdulaziz Yari was on several occasions grilled by the EFCC for alleged illegal financial dealings and misappropriation of funds.
“It was reported that in February last year that Yari faced a long interrogation session with detectives at the Lagos office of the EFCC over an alleged attempt to illegally move N300 billion from a corporate account in a new generation bank.”