Immediate
past Senate President, David Mark, has reacted to the allegation leveled
against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC that he
purchased his house in Apo Legislative Quarters Abuja without following due
process.
The
antigraft agency last week invited Mark to their office to answer questions on
how he purchased his mansion in the posh Apo quarters. EFCC had alleged that
while he was still the Senate President, he used his office to acquire the
mansion without following due process.
Mark in his
defence issued a statement yesterday, saying that the EFCC's allegation is
'spurious, contrived and baseless.” In the statement signed by his media
assistant, Paul Mumeh, the former Senate president says he never flouted
any laws while purchasing his Abuja house. According to him, himself and other
politicians were given the opportunity to purchase some properties. He bided
for it and purchased it in line with the Federal Government’s monetisation
policy, which was started by the administration of ex-President Olusegun
Obasanjo.
“I had the
right of first refusal. Even if I did not purchase it, someone else would have.
I am a law-abiding citizen. I did not flout any law. Curiously, four houses
occupied by the then presiding officers of the National Assembly were offered
to the occupants. All of us – I, as the then President of the
Senate; the Deputy Senate President , Ike Ekweremadu; the then Speaker of the
House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole; and his deputy, Bayero Nafada – were
given the same offer. I am at a loss as to why it is now a subject of
contention. If this persecution is about politics, my political party and
the 2019 elections, I dare say that only God and Nigerians would decide. No
amount of persecution would alter the will of God. I had refrained from
commenting on this because it is already in court. But they have taken the
matter to the court of public opinion'.
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