Alleged Corruption: EFCC Arrests Ex-Senate President, Bukola Saraki
Victoria Ogunrinde
Immediate Past President of the Nigerian Senate, Sen. Bukola Saraki has been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged corruption of theft and laundering.
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The arrest of the former Kwara State governor on Saturday came under 24 hours after Dr. Kemi Olunloyo revealed that Dino Melaye, who was his cronies in the disturbance suffered by the 8th Senate thereby virtually making governance impossible for the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government, was mentioned as an accomplice of international fraudster, Hushpuppi.
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The Defenderngr reported that sources familiar with the development said, according to a media reliet, a situation that may trigger another episode of troubles for the politician.
As Senate President between 2015 and 2019, Saraki spent a considerable time facing allegations of corruption and false declaration of assets. He was acquitted by the Supreme Court in June 2018.
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However, in his new case with the EFCC, the media source said, 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 him, allegedly made returns, for many years, to the former governor, forming an organized network of dirty money flow.
The funds involved were reportedly huge, running into hundreds of millions in naira and hundreds of thousands in foreign currencies at various times, the report said.
Anti-graft investigators have obtained a list of the proxy companies involved and analysed a pattern of suspicious transactions between them and Saraki, it was learned.
One of them has been reportedly responsible for funding Saraki’s lifestyle, including paying over a hundred million to settle the bills for rent and renovation of his Maitama residence, a media investigation showed, based on interviews with persons familiar with the property.