Arrest, Jail Term Loom for Saraki, Ex-governor over Alleged Sale of Kwara Assets

- Serious allegations have been made against Bukola Saraki over reported mismanagement of Kwara state properties

- An investigative panel has presented its findings in which it unravelled the alleged sale of state assets by past government officials

- However, Saraki has denied the claims, referring to them as unfounded allegations aimed at bringing him to shame

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A former Senate president, Bukola Saraki, is on the verge of facing a lawsuit following the recommendations of a probe panel in Kwara state.

In a report forwarded to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the panel claimed on Wednesday, May 27, that past governors and government officials carried out some fraudulent acts and got involved in the sale of state assets for personal gains, The Nation reports.

The chairman of the investigative committee, Hussein Buhari, who briefed the governor on recent findings, disclosed that nothing less than prosecution and jail terms after the recovery of the properties should be meted out to the persons in question, including Saraki.

Buhari noted:

“There are so many rots perpetrated by the past governments, especially in the 16 years before 2019.

“For instance, the rots on Shonga Farms, Satellite Motel, and our properties in Kaduna, Abuja, and Lagos were simply inconceivable. They were all sold to themselves at giveaway prices. We saw criminal conspiracies.

“I just wish Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq will have the courage and political will to implement the report so that everybody found wanting will be brought to book."

Saraki denies claims

However, these allegations have been described by the former Senate boss through one of his media aides, Abdulqadir Abdulganiy, as false and incoherent.

Abdulganiy asserted that the said report is an attempt to witch-hunt Saraki and mar his reputation, Vanguard reports.

The media aide also noted:

“It should be noted that both Senator Saraki...will never be shy of giving an account of how they managed the assets of Kwara state."

Another allegation under Saraki's watch

The immediate past governor of Kwara state, Abdulfatai Ahmed, had been arrested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

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The EFCC said the arrest was not unconnected to Ahmed’s alleged diversion of $9 billion from the coffers of the Kwara state government between 2001 and 2019.

Legit.ng gathered that the anti-graft agency quizzed Ahmed who was the governor when Saraki was the Senate president.

Source: Legit.ng