The police have given President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, till Wednesday to present a written defence on his alleged link with suspected robbers, who invaded banks in Offa on April 4.
Saraki had disclosed on Monday in his Facebook and Twitter handle that he was ready to honour the invitation of the police before the police authorities made an about-face, asking him to send in a written statement instead.
The Force Public Relations Officer, Jimoh Moshood, had, on Sunday in Abuja while parading suspects involved in the Offa bank robberies, said alleged gang leaders levelled allegations against Saraki and the Kwara State Governor, Abdufatah Ahmed.
Moshood had said that Saraki had been asked to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team Office at Guzape, Abuja to answer to the allegations reportedly levelled against him by five alleged gang leaders.
But on Monday morning, the Senate President said he was ready to honour an invitation by the police. The lawmaker said he had instructed his aide-de-camp to get the invitation letter from the police.
He wrote, “I have just informed my ADC to get the letter of invitation from @PoliceNG in respect of the allegations raised yesterday (Sunday)— so that I can immediately honour the alleged invitation.”
Later, the Senate President announced that he had received a letter from the police asking him to make his defence in writing and not to appear in person.
“Following my earlier tweet, I have received the letter from @PoliceNG. They are no longer asking me to appear at any station, but to respond in writing to the allegations within 48 hours, which I plan to do,” Saraki wrote.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; the Director General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami (SAN), met with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday.
The meeting was held behind closed doors at the Presidential Villa.
There were reports on Monday that the meeting was convened because of the invitation of Saraki by the police over the Offa banks robberies.
When State House correspondents approached the police boss for what transpired at the end of the meeting, he declined comment.
The meeting was held shortly after the DSS withdrew some of its men attached to Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.
More to come…
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