A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the forfeiture of two houses in Ilorin, Kwara State belonging to immediate past Senate President, Bukola Saraki. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured the order on Monday.
The EFCC told the court that it uncovered a monumental fraud in the Kwara State Government’s treasury between 2003 and 2011 when Saraki was governor of the state.
Based on an ex parte application filed by the EFCC pursuant to Section 17 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act No. 14, 2006, Justice Rilwan Aikawa ordered the temporary forfeiture of Dr Saraki’s two properties situated at Plots No. 10 and No. 11 Abdulkadir Road, GRA, Ilorin, Kwara State.
Operative of the EFCC, Olamide Sadiq, swore in an affidavit filed in support of the ex-parte application that move for the forfeiture of Saraki’s houses followed the findings of the EFCC after investigation including the report of a committee set up to review sales of Kwara State Government properties during Saraki;s administration in 2003 and 2011.”
Sadiq said, “Whilst the investigation was ongoing several fraudulent transactions were discovered. I’m certain that our investigation has exposed the following mind boggling issues among others”
“That between 2003 and 2011, Dr Olubukola Abubakar Saraki was the Executive Governor of Kwara State.
“That whilst he held the aforementioned position, the common pattern was that after payment of monthly allocation by the Federal Government to Kwara State, a cumulative sum of not less than N100 million will be deposited into the Kwara Government account.
“That upon the payment of the said N100m, same will, in turn, be withdrawn in cash by one Mr Afeez Yusuf from the Kwara State Government House, Ilorin’s account in bits and brought to the Government House.”
The EFCC said it believed that Saraki developed the two properties with proceeds of unlawful activities.
Counsel for the commission, Mr Rotimi Oyedepo, urged Justice Aikawa to order their temporary forfeiture to the Federal Government.
After granting EFCC’s prayer, Justice Aikawa directed EFCC to publish the temporary forfeiture order in a national newspaper. The court adjourned till December 17.
