Kukah prays for Obanikoro, Abati, Fani-Kayode in EFCC custody

Bishop of Catholic Diocese of Sokoto, Father Matthew Hassan Kukah, today, Monday paid an unscheduled visit to the custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Abuja, where some top-ranking Peoples Democratic Party officials, are being detained over graft-related issues.

Kukah, who was conducted round the detention facilities, described the detention facilities as which he described as ‘clean and orderly” and prayed for Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, Femi Fani-Kayode and Reuben Abati, who have been in detention for the second week running.

The priest, who used the visit to assess the state of the detention facilities, said he was satisfied that the EFCC paid premium attention to the well being of the detainees by ensuring that the facilities provided comfort to them. Kukah said after the inspection tour, “I discussed with some detained suspects like Femi Fani-Kayode, Musiliu Obanikoro and Reuben Abati; and I am quite pleased they are looking cheerful.

“I was also happy with the humility of the acting Chairman who took me round and the way he interacted with the detainees. This is what is important for our country so that nobody takes these kinds of things personal. I am happy I came. 

“We are all staff of EFCC to the extent that we want a better country and we are doing what needs to be done. We’ll continue praying that God guides you, keeps you safe and ensure that we build a country that we all will be proud of. This country has suffered so much, but we hope and pray that we can bring the suffering and trauma to an end as we collectively fight corruption.” 

The revered priest, who was conducted round the facilities by the acting Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu, expressed delight that the detainees appeared in high spirits despite the discomfort of temporary restriction. He urged them not to be downcast and to see their current travail as divine. EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Magu, told Kukah that the work the commission was doing for Nigeria was not personal but geared towards changing the country for the better. Magu also cleared the air on the detention of the PDP top shots, saying that it was not personal. “It is not personal. This is all about Nigeria and making it better. And I think there is a consensus around this,” he said

Vanguard