Former Senate President, Senator David Mark, who was arrested and quizzed by the Economic and Financial Crimes commission (EFCC) in connection campaign fund sent to Benue State by the campaign team of former President Goodluck Jonathan in the build-up to the 2015 presidential election, has been released.
However, sources said that the EFCC had raised a new team to grill the former Senate President on Monday on the alleged campaign cash suspected to have been sourced from the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).
A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “Barring any last-minute change of schedule, the ex-President of the Senate has been advised to return to the EFCC on Monday for a comprehensive grilling.
“A team of detectives has been raised to interrogate him. After the session on Monday, the EFCC will then release the details on why Mark was invited.
“So far, we don’t want to take any action which may jeopardise ongoing investigation of the ex-President of the Senate.”
Offering an insight into what transpired between Mark and EFCC officials before he was granted administrative bail on Thursday, a source in Mark’s camp said: “One online medium is talking of money shared to Senators. But when Oga was confronted, he said he had no knowledge of the amount in question.
“He asked the EFCC operatives to show any evidence linking him with the sharing of any cash. These operatives could not produce a sheet of the beneficiaries of the so-called funds.
“Mark has not shown interest in any office in 2019 and they have started hounding him. It is really unfortunate.”
However, Senator Mark, in a statement on Sunday by his Media Assistant, Paul Mumeh denied receiving over N2bn from the Peoples Democratic Party through a National Assembly account for distribution to senators.
The statement said that as a law-abiding citizen, he had answered an invitation by the EFCC to deny the allegation.
“Our attention has been drawn to media reports wherein it was reported that former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, was quizzed by EFCC over some alleged financial transactions.
“To set the records straight, Senator Mark was invited by the EFCC via a letter addressed to the National Assembly to answer questions on the 2015 presidential election campaign funds as it concerned Benue State.
“As a law-abiding citizen, Senator Mark honoured the invitation. Curiously, they also alleged that the PDP paid over N2bn into the National Assembly’s account which he, as then President of the Senate, allegedly shared among the 109 senators, including PDP, Action Congress of Nigeria and All Nigerians Peoples Party (members) in 2010.
“Again, to the best of his knowledge, Senator Mark is not aware of such transaction. This simply did not make sense to any right thinking member of the society.
“Senator Mark wondered why anybody would think that PDP will pay money into National Assembly account. He, however, clarified all the issues raised before returning home.
“Senator Mark believes in due process and the rule of law. He has maintained a clean record of public service over the years and will continue to uphold the highest standard of conduct expected of public servants.”
The statement added that politicians across party lines, friends and well-wishers have been on “pilgrimage” to Mark’s house ever since, to identify with him “at this moment.”
“He, however, appealed to his supporters, friends and associates to remain calm and see his current travails as a price he has to pay for leadership,” the statement concluded.