EFCC grills Saraki over N26bn contracts, money laundering allegations

[tps_header][/tps_header]

Saraki: I went there on my own, not arrested

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on Saturday quizzed a former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, over corruption allegations bordering on N26bn contracts as governor of Kwara State and money laundering.
A senior official at the commission said Saraki was invited during the week to report at the EFCC headquarters in order to answer some questions.
The source explained that the former Senate President pleaded with the commission formally that he would honour the invitation on Saturday when he would be in nation’s capital, Abuja, for a wedding ceremony.
According to him, Saraki was to answer questions over alleged theft and laundering of public funds using a network of cronies and proxy companies.
Another official, who confirmed Saraki’s interaction with the operatives of the commission, said Saraki was not actually the target of the fresh probe but a former governor in Kwara State, Abdul-Fatah Ahmed, who is histill ally.
Saraki, who was the Senate President between 2015 and 2019, spent not less than three years facing allegations of corruption and false declaration of assets. He was acquitted by the Supreme Court in June 2018.

A source also The Nation that Saraki was grilled  over the ongoing investigation into how a N17bn bond was spent during his tenure as Kwara State governor.

He was also quizzed over alleged diversion of N9bn fraud by his successor as governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed.
Ahmed who was finance commissioner during Saraki’s tenure as a governor, had earlier been interrogated by the EFCC.
The cash in question h was allegedly diverted between 2011 and 2019.
Saraki was expected to explain projects executed with the N17billion bond during his tenure.
He said he was asked by the EFCC to come after he attended a wedding reception in Abuja.
He said there was no big deal honouring an invitation by a state agency.
“He is being quizzed in respect of the N17billion bond and the ongoing probe of alleged diversion of N9billion during the tenure of ex-Governor Ahmed,” the source said.
“In the course of interacting with the ex-governor (Ahmed), some issues cropped up and it is important Saraki is investigated.
“We have been on this case since December 2020 and we have reached a convenient bend to invite Saraki.
“On this same case, a former Commissioner for Finance under Ahmed, Ademola Banu, has been arraigned for alleged fraud.
“Banu was put on trial alongside Travel Messenger Company Limited and one Olarewaju Adeniyi, on nine counts before Justice Babangana Ashigar of the Federal High Court, Ilorin, Kwara State.”
The source said the EFCC had conducted a comprehensive investigation into the N17 billion bond which has generated issues among Kwarans.
The source said, “We have a report on the N17billion but we want Saraki to clarify all allegations since he was the one in charge.
“Some aspects of the report are: Asa Dam Mixed Use Development project: The project had N2billion allocated from the bond. However the sum of N83.688 431.68 was spent on consultancy by ECAD Designs Limited and nothing else was done.
“Ilorin Water Distribution Project was allocated N2, 000,000,000. However, N3, 736,505,126.49 was spent on the project. The only contractor for the project was C.G.C Nigeria Limited. An analysis of the Kwara state Government’s First Bank of Nigeria Plc account revealed that the sum of N1billion was paid to C.G.C apparently for the project. Investigation is still ongoing.
“Another project which benefitted from the bond is Kwara State University with a N1billion vote. But a total of N1, 675 607.905 23 was spent. The project had the following contractors: Charvet Nigeria Limited, Akit technology Limited, Integrated Concept Limited, Golden Consult and the University Itself.
“The project was handled by the Ministry of Works and the Commissioner at the time was one Kolawole Abdulrauf Shitttu. Investigation revealed that Mr. Shittu and one Engr. Akintola Taiwo are both directors and the accounts signatories to a company called PTL Consult Limited. Shittu is also a signatory to another company called Strudev Consultancy Services. Analysis of the companies’ accounts and the Mr. Shittu’s personal account revealed that transfers were made by Charvet Nigeria Limited and Archon Nigeria Limited; the two companies were among the contractors of the University Project.
“The Managing Director at Archon was invited and he stated that he was the project manager for the construction of the Kwara State University and that he was informed by the State Government that PTL Consult is the consultant on the project and that he worked with Engr. Taiwo during the period which was why they made payments to PTL Consults’ account.
“Efforts are being made to arrest Mr. Shittu.
“Concerning Kwara Mall, the fact-sheet claimed that the project was allocated N500 million and the entire sum was utilized by the Ministry of Commerce.
It added: “The Permanent Secretary was unable to provide us with details of how the money was spent but did state that they were in partnership with a private company; Persians investments Limited and that the Kwara mall was constructed and is being fully utilized. A search of the company showed that they were into real estate and property management; parts of their properties included Kwara mall, Viva Cinema, Polo Park Enugu among others.
“Analysis of the company bank statement showed N500 million paid to the company by the Kwara State Government on the 10th of June 2010. While the investigation is ongoing, the sum of two million USD $2,000,000 deposit was traced to one of the company’s accounts. The depositor is being tracked by detectives and all relevant agencies.”

Regarding irrigation project, the EFCC detectives alleged that the “document recovered from the Accountant-General did not show this project but the Permanent Secretary stated that the project ,also known as Shonga Irrigation Project ,was handled by the Ministry and the contract was awarded to C.G.C Nigeria Limited for N2,998,966,827. However, only N882, 944,215 was paid to the company. He further stated that the project was later taken over by the Federal Government.

On the International Aviation College, whose licence was suspended recently, the detectives, in their report ,said it was allocated N1.5 billion from the bond but N2,448.663.386.56 was spent in on the construction and purchase of equipment.

“Contractors that handled the project were: Godab Nigeria Limited. Henry George Nigeria Limited, ECAD Design (Consultants) and the college itself. The College is alleged to be fully owned by the Kwara State Government and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) R C; 746511. Its board included the current State Governor, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Razak Atunwa (a former commissioner in the state) Popoola Captain Shadrack Taiwo and Yusuf Tunde. The registrar of the college was invited for an interview and questioned on the finances of the college as well as aspects in which the college handled during the construction of the college.”

He stated that the bursar of the school died recently but most contracts were handled by one Harlequin Aviation Information Service Limited (HAIS).

A search at the company found that one Yusuf Tunde is a Director as well as signatory to the accounts of the company: he is also a Board member of the Aviation College. Based on this the accounts of HAIS were placed on caution and the company’s representative is to report for an interview on the 30th of August 2018.

The report clarified the status of loan refinancing by the state government.
It said: “The prospectus of the bond stated that Kwara state had indebtedness of N4, 980,000 in external loans out of which N3.3 billion amounted to legacy obligations preceding the then administration They proposed utilizing N2, 400,000,000 from the bond proceeds of the bond to service part of the legacy obligations which were (a) African Development Bank(AFDB)- construction of four specialist hospitals in Jebba, Offa, Oke-Ode and Sobi at a cost of N1,440, 828, 000; (b) AFDB-equipment procurements to the four specialist hospitals; ( C) World Bank Essential Drug Projects.

“The total debt was N3, 301, 162, 42. Only Documents obtained from the Accountant-General of the State did not show any indication that monies were paid to AfDB or the World Bank instead another list with heading ‘OTHER PAYMENT’ showed the names of Government Agencies and private companies being paid a total of N974, 896,343.47.

“The companies were invited. One of the companies, Lolada Investment Limited reported and stated that they were awarded a contract valued at N285, 652, 200 by the Kwara state Government to install CCTV system for Ilorin metropolitan.”

The spokesman for the anti-graft agency, Wilson Uwujaren, told the News Agency of Nigeria that Saraki was in the custody of the commission for continuation of interrogation.
The invitation and detention of Saraki for interrogation was happening days after a former Nasarawa State Gov. Tanko Al-Makura and his wife, Mairo, were invited and interrogated.
The commission had invited Al-Makura and the wife over alleged breach of public trust and misappropriation of billions of naira by his administration.
Saraki reacting through a statement by his media office confirmed that he was at the commission’s headquarters.
However, he denied being arrested, saying he went there on his own volition.
The statement signed by his media aide, Yusuph Olaniyonu, read in part, “Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki will like to confirm that this afternoon, Dr Saraki on his own volition visited the office of the EFCC to clarify any issue that the commission may want to raise with him.”
“It will be recalled that following the order of the Federal High Court, Abuja, on the Fundamental Human Rights case filed by Dr. Saraki during the period of the former chairman of the EFCC which precluded the commission from investigating him until the matter is dispensed with, the commission at the last hearing on July 14, 2021, pleaded with the judge that the order was preventing them from doing their job.
“Following this complaint, Dr. Saraki, as a responsible citizen, on his own volition approached the commission that at the earliest convenient date, he was willing to visit the commission’s office and clarify all issues they might want to raise with him.
“He, therefore, visited the commission’s office this afternoon and answered some questions. He is back home. He was not arrested. Dr. Saraki also assured the commission that he has nothing to hide and will always make himself available to clear all issues that may require his attention.”