Saraki Says Seized N298 Million Range Rover Belong To Senate, Not Him

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President of the Nigerian Senate

…As Senate Orders Probe Into Seized Jeep, Melaye

By Nuel Suji – Senate President, Bukola Saraki on Tuesday dissociated himself from the alleged N298 million Range Rover Jeep seized by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS‎), saying it belonged to Senate and has not been delivered to him.

This is even as the Senate mandated its Committee on Ethics and Privilege to investigate the non-payment of Customs duty on the Range Rover as well as the allegation of certificate forgery leveled against Senator Dino Melaye.

Mr. Melaye is being accused of falsifying a degree in Geography he claimed to have obtained from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. The controversial Senator has however denied the allegations assuring that he is ready for the probe.

Mr. Saraki who spoke through his‎ Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, stated that the allegation raised by Senator Ali Ndume linking the Senate President to the importation of vehicle lacks basis, dismissing it as outright falsehood.

In a statement issued Tuesday, Mr. Olaniyonu said from the facts and documents about the seized vehicle, it is obvious that the Senate President has nothing to do with the importation of any vehicle.

“A supplier was engaged by the Senate to supply a vehicle. While transferring the vehicle between Lagos and Abuja, it was impounded by the Customs. We believe that is an issue between the supplier and the Customs because the Senate has not taken delivery. So, why is somebody trying to drag in the name of Saraki into the issue.

“The documents on the vehicle are there for the general public to view and make their conclusions. Now, that the matter has been referred to the Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, all the facts will be out”, Olaniyonu stated.

Senate decision to investigate the seized jeep meant for Mr. Saraki as well as the Certificate scandal of Mr. Melaye followed a Point of Order raised by Senator Ndume who insisted the matter be investigated.

Mr. Ndume who cited Orders 14 and 15 of the senate standing rules based his motions on separate publications by an online medium last weekend against Saraki and Melaye, demanded investigations of the allegations leveled against the duo in the spirit of transparency for which the 8thSenate vouched to stand for at all times.

The online medium, (Sahara Reporters) had in its story claimed the Jeep was seized by the Customs due to failure of the Senate President to pay the required import duty of N72million on the alleged bullet proof Jeep worth N298million.

The report reads: Our investigators discovered that Nigerian Customs officers in Lagos had on January 11, 2017, intercepted and impounded a Range Rover SUV which carried documents that claimed its chassis number was “SALGV3TF3EA190243.”

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