Police Declare Ex Governor Bukola Saraki Wanted For 9.7 Billion Naira Fraud
The Police yesterday declared the immediate past governor of Kwara State, Dr.Bukola Saraki wanted for alleged fraud
The Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the police said the senator was wanted in connection with “a case of suspected fraudulent conversion of depositors’ funds through questionable waivers of loans and other facilities of about N9.76bn granted by the management of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc.”
The ex-governor reacted swiftly to the police statement and said he was ready to make himself available for questioning.
The loans, according to the police, were given to “companies he (Saraki) promoted between 2004 and 2009 when he was the governor of Kwara State. Some of the facilities were allegedly used to buy choice properties.”
The police said they were declaring the former governor wanted after he refused to honour their invitation to clear his name.
A warrant of arrest has been obtained against him and the police requested that anyone ” with useful information regarding his whereabouts should report to the nearest Police Station or contact the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, 13 Milverton Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.”
Reacting to the police statement through his lawyer, Mr.Rafiu Lawal-Rabana (SAN), Dr.Saraki said he would appear despite the fact that he has a pending application before a Federal High Court in Abuja. Rabana said Saraki had thought the police would respect the ongoing court process and stay action pending the determination of his application..
He said: “Now that the police have made it clear that they do not have respect for the judiciary, Dr. Saraki will now appear before the court,” he said.
The counsel, who spoke with newsmen on the phone, added: “Saraki is not on the run and he has no cause to run as a distinguished person.”
Although he was not forthcoming on when Saraki will appear before the police, there were indications that it might be today or Monday.
Saraki had earlier asked the police to stay further action pending the determination of the suit he filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The ex-governor had asked the court to determine “whether it is not a violation of the plaintiff’s right under section 34(a) and section 35 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) for the Defendant to invite the plaintiff to appear before the police without any allegations and or accusations specifically made against him.
The former governor’s media aide, Akintoba Fatigun also confirmed that he will appear at SFU on Monday.
Source: The Nation Newspapers
But,bukola saraki is this fem enough?You embezzle the kwara state fund before leaving the throne.god will judge you
This is not a case of embezzling of state fund. It is a case of a loan that was written off by Intercontinental Bank. The reason best known to d bank’s management at that time. So, it is purely business transaction. I am sure Bukola Saraki wil show up & clear his name when the time comes.
Bukola should toe the path of honour and report to the SFU, it is unacceptable to evade the law with law! A police invitation for questioning should not scare the Kwara man of the moment. NPF should pick him like any financial criminal since the Senator of the FR of Nigeria is yet to come to dawn that immunity is long gone. Thisdebt write off has contributed to the insolvency of the non existing bank which led to downsizing of dutiful career young Nigerians. Bukky the rich also cry, police stations are meant for humans not animals! Lawless lawmaker!!!!!!
@T Ayinla, the fear of clearing his (Bukola) name is the reason for evasion. What does it take to visit SFU?! For clarity sake Bukola’s surrogate in Lai Alabi was at the helm of affairs of the bank at the time. Sure bet if you look atthe state books you will see much more! Let him be bold to visit the SFU!
I believe d remembrance of James Ibori n h is 13 years is d beginin of Saraki’s fear.Mr Ex Governor,y not remove fear n pride n go straight 2 SFU n clear ur name,dat is if ui think u’re just.I wish d’ll dig deep in2 dis case and bring all of u who embezzle public fund 2 book.”Nigeria”, borrow a leaf frm d Britons(as in d case of Ibori), n show d world dat we hav a judiciary dat is no respecter of wealth nor status.Oga Bukky,go c SFU, simple!!!
Truth is Bukola and Mahmoud Alabi can’t look into d faces of even employees of d defunct intercontinental bank and claim to be innocent. Even d sale of d bank to access is fraudulent. Access bank does not have d moni to buy a bank like Inter, access bank is indebted to intercontinental to d tune of 21billion given to Aig–muokhede and further reduced to ten million which he coudnt pay. Alabi was used to write off dese loans which d ex md of d bank (erastus) refused to write off followin deir disagreements (they were friends bf dey all fell apart) sanusi is not innocent in dese deals too. Mahmoud left d bank wit d sum of 200m as severance package. God wil make sure nemesis catches up wit all of dem bcos one can’t finish d story in few lines like dis
The police just want to make a sensational headline. Did Bankole refund? Did Liyel Imoke and co refund 16 billion dollars meant for power? Oga Saraki sleep with ur two eyes closed because it’ll soon be over and forgotten.