Nigeria’s chief justice, Justice Tanko
Muhammad, has denied knowing a former senator, Shehu Sani being investigated
for alleged extortion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) said Senator Sani was
arrested for collecting $10,000 from a
businessman, Sani Dauda, owner of ASD Motors who has a case pending with the
anti-graft agency.
Dauda claimed Sani told him he needed the money to bribe Tanko and four other
judges to influence the case in favour of Dauda.
“Senator Shehu Sani is not known to the CJN,” Supreme Court’s Director, Press,
and Information, Dr Festus Akande, said in a statement.
“Justice Tanko Muhammad has never, in his entire life, seen or had any form of
encounter or interaction, either directly or remotely with Shehu Sani, let
alone giving him assurances of what is not only unethical but equally
despicable and inglorious, to say the least.”
“Let it be known that if the statement credited to Shehu Sani was actually made by him, it is simply a blatant lie, a figment of his imagination and an orchestrated falsehood immodestly concocted to malign, smear and disingenuously tarnish the good image and reputation of the CJN with a view to gaining financial reward,” Akande said