The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday alleged that a former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, diverted not less than N10billion belonging to Kwara State.
It told the Federal High Court in Lagos that Saraki diverted the sum in monthly tranches of N100million between 2003 and 2011 while he was Kwara State governor.
The anti-graft agency claimed that Saraki spent N1.09billion out of the N10b Federal allocation to build two houses in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The commission’s lawyer, Rotimi Oyedepo, prayed Justice Rilwan Aikawa to forfeit the houses to the Federal Government.
But the ex-governor denied the allegations through his lawyer, Mr Kehinde Ogunwunmiju (SAN) and opposed the prayer for forfeiture.
Justice Aikwa adjourned till April 27 for judgment.
The EFCC had on December 2, 2019 obtained an order temporarily forfeiting the houses – Plots No. 10 and No. 11 Abdulkadir Road, GRA, Ilorin, Kwara State – to the Federal Government.
Thursday, Oyedepo applied that the interim forfeiture order be made permanent.
He drew the judge’s attention to an affidavit filed before the court by an EFCC officer, Bilikisu Buhari.
Buhari averred in the document that while Saraki was Kwara State governor, he diverted N100m on a monthly basis from state’s federal allocation.
