Former governor of Kwara State, Bukola Saraki, who earlier today
turned himself in after being declared wanted by the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has been released on administrative
bail.
EFCC sources told SaharaReporters that the former governor has plenty
of answers to give regarding how he handled funds belonging to a former
family-owned bank, Societe Generale Bank of Nigeria (SGBN).
He is also
to face interrogation on the way he allegedly laundered billions of
Naira belonging to another bank, the former InterContinental Bank of
Nigeria Plc (now Access Bank).
A former Managing Director of InterContinental Bank, Mahmoud Lai
Alabi, who was a protégé of Senator Saraki, reportedly assisted the
former governor in laundering several billions of Naira using some 30
companies. The monies, which were given out as loans, were later written
off as bad debts.
The companies include: Sintex Ltd, Skyview Properties Ltd, Asam Oil,
Quality Packing Ltd, Bastone Ltd, Madison Properties Ltd, Airline
catering Services and 25 others.
EFCC investigators looking into Mr. Saraki's fraud also noted that he
laundered several billions of Naira that were deducted from local
government allocations to Kwara State over eight years. The operatives
expressed frustration that the new governor of Kwara State and the
management of Access Bank PLC are conniving with the Senator to destroy
documents that could hasten proper investigation and arraignment.
Similarly, a discovery that the Kwara State government has been
paying N100 million monthly to the former governor as "pension" is being
frustrated by the First City Merchant bank (FCMB), where the fraud was
detected.
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