EFCC Probing Saraki, Kwara Gov over N17bn Bond

 The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is reportedly probing Senate President Bukola Saraki over the use of N17 billion bond secured by the Kwara state government. 

Alongside the senate president, Abdulfatah Ahmed, governor of Kwara, is also being investigated. 

The Nation reports that the EFCC suspects that the bonds raised in 2009 when Saraki was governor of the state may have been misappropriated by both administrations. 

Some of the said projects include N2billion Asa Dam mixed use development project, Ilorin water distribution project which was allocated N2 billion but has reportedly gulped N3.7 billion, Shonga irrigation project worth N2.9 billion and the International Aviation College which was allocated N1.5 billion “but N2.4 billion was spent on the construction and purchase of equipment”. 

According to the newspaper, an EFCC fact-sheet on the investigation read: “We are investigating a petition forwarded by the Code of Conduct Bureau, Abuja. It was alleged that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and the incumbent Accountant-General of Kwara State allegedly conspired and misappropriated N17billion raised through bond in 2009. 

“Letters of invitation were sent to the Secretary to the state government, the accountant-general of the state as well as permanent secretaries for ministries that handled the projects.” 

Meanwhile, a Kwara state government source privy to the probe reportedly denied any misuse of the bond. 

“The EFCC is on a wild goose chase because the bond has been fully repaid since 2014 without any outstanding liability for the people of Kwara state,” the source was quoted as saying. 

“We suspect sheer politics and a plot to intimidate Saraki and Ahmed because 2019 polls are around the corner.” 

Saraki and Governor Ahmed are presently being investigated by the police over their alleged links with suspects arrested in connection to the Offa robbery incident. 

Both men, who recently decamped from the All Progressives Congress to the Peoples Democratic Party, have dismissed the probe as a witch hunt.