EFCC Arrests Former Senate President Saraki, See Why

Saraki has been arrested by EFCC.

Newsone understands that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s antigraft agency, has arrested a former president of the Nigerian Senate, Bukola Saraki.

A report monitored on PREMIUM TIMES by Newsone Nigeria, says Saraki, a former Kwara State governor, was detained on Saturday, July 31, over allegations of theft and money laundering.

The report quoted sources familiar with the development to have said that Saraki’s arrest is a situation that may trigger another episode of troubles for the politician.

Saraki as senate president between 2015 and 2019, 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, Saraki is to answer questions over alleged theft and laundering of public funds using a network of cronies and proxy companies, PREMIUM TIMES understands.

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.

Newsone understands that the funds involved were huge, running into hundreds of millions in naira and hundreds of thousands in foreign currencies at various times, sources said.

According to the report, anti-graft investigators have obtained a list of the proxy companies involved and analysed a pattern of suspicious transactions between them and Mr 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 Mr Saraki’s Maitama residence, PREMIUM TIMES’ investigation showed, based on interviews with persons familiar with the property.