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

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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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