N748m Mansion: David Mark presents health excuse certificate, to resume interrogation January

Former Senate President, David Mark has presented the health excuse certificate to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to allow him attend to his health before appearing for interrogations in the ongoing probe of the purchase of a N748million Senate President’s official mansion in Abuja.

He also said his health was not stable enough to enable him write a statement on issues connected with the purchase of the official residence of Senate President.

He asked the anti-graft agency to allow him to attend to his health and return on or before January 11 for interrogation on the said property.

But he told the EFCC detectives that he bought the quarters with a loan and  promised to present relevant documents next year.

These claims are contained in a fact-sheet by the EFCC on the investigation of the ex-Senate President.

According to the document, Mark has three cases before the EFCC which are being handled by separate teams of detectives.

The other cases are N550m arms procurement cash from ONSA and N2.9billion curious payment into the account of the National Assembly’s account and shared to Senators during Mark’s tenure; and his role in about N2billion campaign funds meant for Benue State.

The document said Mark was expected to respond to the following issues:

• The property was unlawfully acquired in 2011.
• Didn’t the buying of the house amount to an abuse of office?
• Whether or not the purchase of the property was not a violation of Part 11 (b) of the Certain Political, Public and Judicial Office Holders (Salaries and Allowances, Etc.) (Amendment) Act, 2008 otherwise known as the Remuneration Act, 2008
• Did the process of acquisition of the house comply with Section 15 (1) of the Procurement Act, 2007;
• Was the sale of the house gazetted by the Federal Government?

A top source, privy to the investigation, said: “When Mark met with our team of detectives on the N748million, he only presented a health excuse certificate.

“Later he said he could not write any statement to respond to issues isolated for him because he said he was unstable. We accorded him enough respect befitting of his status.

“He told our team verbally that he bought the house with a loan and pleaded with the EFCC to allow him to return on or before January 11, 2018 to come for grilling on the property.

“Having asked him to deposit his passports, we are expecting him to come for interrogation in January.”