Operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission have arrested and detained a former president of the Nigerian Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, in custody over a renewed allegation of fraud and money laundering.
According to a report by Premium Times, Saraki, who was the Governor of Kwara State between 2003 and 201, was detained on Saturday.
Sources familiar with the development said the situation that may trigger another episode of troubles for the Kwara 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 after over two years of legal tussle.
However, in his new case with the EFCC, PREMIUM TIMES understands, 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 Saraki, allegedly made returns, for many years, to the former governor, forming an organised a network of dirty money flow.
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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 Saraki.
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 Saraki’s Maitama residence, PREMIUM TIMES’ investigation showed, based on interviews with persons familiar with the property. (Premium Times)