APC Senatorial Candidate, AA Zaura, asks EFCC to observe due process over alleged US$1.3m Fraud

The Kano Central Senatorial candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Abdulkareem Abdulsalam Zaura has asked on the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) to ensure it observed the enabling laws and follow due before embarking on any prosecution or arrest.

He also challenged the Commission to meet him at the Supreme Court having been cleared and pronounced innocent of all allegations by the High Court in Kano State.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had indicated that it will arrest the Kano central senatorial candidate under the ruling APC AbdulKareem AbdulSalam Zaura.

EFCC lawyer, Ahmad Rogha hade made the disclosure at the resumption of the criminal trial of US$ 1.3 million slammed on Zaura at the Federal high court sitting in Kano.

However, addressing a press briefing at the Nigerian Union of Journalists Secretariat, Abuja on Tuesday, against the backdrop of recent declaration by EFCC to launch a manhunt for his arrest the personal assistant to AA Zaura and spokesperson for his Campaign Organisation, Ibrahim Garba, said the EFCC should respect due process as the case is currently at the Apex Court.

He said the new tactics by EFCC were against President Muhammadu Buhari’s call for the respect of the principle of the rule of law.  
Ibrahim who said the accused person, AA Zaura had no link with the charges brought forward, disclosed that Zaura’s legal team had “since filed a similar petition at the Supreme Court for further hearing on the matter.”
Consequently, he demanded that, “In as much as we appreciate the EFCC’s role on the matter, we appeal for a fair hearing so that a proper investigation can be carried out so as not to ridicule the process because of his hard-earned reputation through hard work
“We have seen how great people are made and we also have seen how great institutions collapse for lack of self-evaluation, our only appeal to the EFCC is that they should meet us at the Supreme Court to test the law to avert infractions.”
He said his principal is not evading court procedures, he, however, appealed to a section of the media not to be biased on the matter. 
“We urged them to please take a step further in asking the right questions so that facts can be established before rushing to the press,” he said.
He advised the EFCC to aviod media media trial and focus on its Constitutional mandate as Zaura’s appeal was pending before the Supreme Court”, as “the arraignment was also adjourned to 30th January 2023.