Embattled former Kwara State governor and senator representing Kwara Central in the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, was yesterday arrested by the Economic and Financial crimes Commission, EFCC, over allegations bordering on corruption, money laundering and fraud while in office as the Chief executive of the state.
A highly placed source at the commission yesterday told Nigerian pilot that his arrest is sequel to the earlier invitation that was sent to him by the EFCC to go and face interrogation.
According to the source, the embattled Senator will soon be arraigned before a Federal High Court sitting in Illorin the kwara State capital as soon as investigations are concluded.
The embattled lawmaker will be docked on allegations bordering corruption, money laundering, embezzlement and abuse of office while he held sway for eight years as the chief executive of the state.
It will be recalled that Nigerian Pilot had earlier reported that the anti graft agency was set to apprehend the former governor for his role in the finances of the state government while he held forth as governor.
The source further added that the operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for the past five years have been investigating Senator Saraki over his alleged involvement in fraud-related matters during his eight-year period as governor and his time as executive director of the defunct Societe Generale Bank Nigeria Limited, SGBN,.
According to the source, the embattled former governor has been invited by the EFCC on several occasions at the Idiagbon House, base of the operations arm of the EFCC at its headquarters in Abuja and he is due for arraignment now.
The source further added that the operatives of the commission have gathered enough documentary evidence to prove their case against the former governor when he is formally docked.
It was also learnt that the EFCC had compiled a dossier on the ex- governor that contains several allegations of fraud that borders on abuse of office and money laundering which the ant-graft body had covertly investigated over the past few years that will be tendered in court.
Based on these findings, the commission, Nigerian Pilot gathered has yesterday confronted the ex-governor with the evidence of his alleged financial indiscretion both as governor and as the executive director of SGBN.
The EFCC is said to have concluded the investigation into the mega fraud that triggered the collapse of the SGBN years ago but could not move against Saraki in spite of the overwhelming evidence against him on the grounds of the immunity he enjoyed as a sitting governor. Saraki ruled Kwara State between 2003 and 2011.
During his tenure, Saraki became a powerful political figure as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF,. His name featured prominently in the high-wire game of intrigues that allegedly forced the pioneer former chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Nuhu Ribadu, out of the commission.
Reacting recently, Media aide to Saraki, Bamikole Omishore confirmed the receipt of the EFCC summons in a statement made available to newsmen.
“The office of Senator Bukola Saraki received the invitation of the EFCC yesterday, August 1, 2013. This is coming amidst earlier publication by one of the National dailies that the senator allegedly shunned the commission’s invitation” he said.
As of the time of filling in this report Senator Saraki was still in the custody of EFCC.