USA Africa Dialogue Series - As EFCC goes after daughter, Turai Yar’Adua runs to Obasanjo for help

As EFCC goes after daughter, Turai Yar'Adua runs to Obasanjo for help

by Ben Ezeamalu

Premium Times / 2015-08-03 12:05


Former First Lady, Turai Yar'Adua, on Saturday visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo in his residence in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, people familiar with the visit have told PREMIUM TIMES.

Mrs. Yar'Adua, reportedly accompanied to the former president's residence by businessman Kenny Martins, met privately with Mr. Obasanjo for more than an hour before departing in a convoy of three cars, our sources said.

It is the former First Lady's visit to Mr. Obasanjo since her husband died in office in 2010 after prolonged illness.

Those close to her said during the visit, she thanked the former President for finding her late husband a worthy successor, and pleaded with him to forgive her and her family for whatever wrong was done to him (Obasanjo) during Mr. Yar'Adua's tenure.

Mr. Obasanjo, who helped the late president to power in 2007, had grown critical of the former President's immediate family and associates who he accused of mounting a "cloak and dagger operation" to conceal Mr. Yar'Adua's health status and block his then deputy (Goodluck Jonathan), from assuming power.

Our sources said Mrs. Yar'Adua also pleaded with Mr. Obasanjo to prevail on President Muhammadu Buhari not to harass or victimize her family members or those who worked with her husband.

"She specifically intimated the former President of the ongoing probe of one of her daughters, Zainab, by the EFCC. She believed it is a witch-hunt, a ploy by the Buhari government to get at her family," one of our sources said.

An aide of Mr. Obasanjo confirmed the visit.

"It is true that she visited on Saturday," the aide said. "I don't know exactly what she discussed with Baba (Obasanjo). But I think it is safe to say she came to greet him and discuss issues relevant to the two families."

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission had on July 22 summoned Zainab, wife of former Kebbi State Governor, Saidu Dakingari, over alleged N2billion fraud perpetrated during her husband's tenure as governor of the Northwest State.

Mrs. Dakingari was initially expected to report for questioning at the EFCC headquarters on July 22.

However, she was given another appointment for July 27 after she sent words that she was away to Saudi Arabia for Umrah (lesser hajj).

When she appeared that July 27, investigators said she was granted administrative bail on health grounds and asked to return on a future date.

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