Former president of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki has been in custody of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over allegations of theft and money laundering.
Mr Saraki, a former Kwara State governor, was detained on Saturday, sources familiar with the development told Premium Times that a situation that may trigger another episode of troubles for the politician.
As senate president between 2015 and 2019, Mr Saraki spent a considerable time facing allegations of corruption and false declaration of assets. He was acquitted by the Supreme Court in June 2018.
However, in his new case with the EFCC, PREMIUM TIMES understands, Mr Saraki is to answer questions over alleged theft and laundering of public funds using a network of cronies and proxy companies.
The suspected proxies, who executed purported contracts for Kwara State under Mr Saraki, allegedly made returns, for many years, to the former governor, forming an organised a network of dirty money flow.
The funds involved were huge, running into hundreds of millions in naira and hundreds of thousands in foreign currencies at various times, sources said.
Anti-graft investigators have obtained a list of the proxy companies involved and analysed a pattern of suspicious transactions between them and Mr Saraki, PREMIUM TIMES learnt.
One of them has been reportedly responsible for funding Mr Saraki’s lifestyle, including paying over a hundred million to settle the bills for rent and renovation of Mr Saraki’s Maitama residence, PREMIUM TIMES’ investigation showed, based on interviews with persons familiar with the property.
More details later…
This is interestingly incredibly incredulous. Crime in high definition, quality and dimensions.
piecemeal arrests & detention of Saraki is getting weary to some of us. This approach is the source of allegation of political witch-hunt. please, let evidences against him become thorough & painstaking for final legal actions, Regards.