Former Governor of Nasarawa State Umaru Tanko Al-Makura has denied being arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Al-Makura, now a senator representing Nasarawa South Senatorial District, told the BBC Hausa that he was only invited by the anti-graft body over some petitions against him.
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He accused those peddling the rumours of his arrest, describing it as a case of giving a dog a bad name in order to hang it, but added that they have failed.
“I am really surprised to hear this rumour. Many people are surprised too,” Al-Makura added.
He said the EFCC had invited him before the Eid el-Kabir, but that he explained to them that he won’t be able to honour the invitation until after Sallah.
“When I met with the EFCC chairman, he informed me that that there were petitions against me by some people, and that they wanted to hear my own side. My meeting with the chairman did not last more than 10 minutes,” Al-Makura said.
He also said that he had met with other EFCC officials over the petitions and he has answered them to the best of his knowledge.
Senator Al-Makura also said those peddling the rumour may be doing it because of his ambition to become the national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“They are doing it to frustrate my interest in the APC national chairmanship which many people want me to run for. But I don’t have any problem with anyone,” he said.
Al-Makura said he is a Nigerian and a loyal party member of the APC and that was why he has not engaged in campaign for the APC chairmanship.
“I am waiting for the guidelines and the direction of the party before starting my campaign,” he said.
