Yusuf Bello| A federal high court in Lagos on Monday ordered the forfeiture of two houses of Bukola Saraki, in Ilorin, Kwara state.
The two houses are located at plots 10 and 11 Abdulkadir Road, GRA, Ilorin.
The presiding judge, Rilwan Aikawa, gave the order following an application filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The spokesperson of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) Uwujaren revealed this in a statement.
The Ilorin Zonal Office of the EFCC had earlier approached the court for an order of interim forfeiture of about N1 billion worth property located at Abdulkadir street, G.R.A, Ilorin, Kwara State on the grounds that it was acquired through the proceeds of unlawful activity.
Justice Aikawa, while ruling on the exparte application filed by EFCC lawyer, Rotimi Oyedipo on Monday, ordered the interim forfeiture of the property, saying that the court order should be published in national newspapers.
The Judge further said that any interested parties in the property should show cause while the villa should not be forfeited to the Federal Government.
According to the anti-graft agency, the former Senate president and two-term governor of Kwara, is believed to have while serving as governor of Kwara between 2003 and 2011, withdrew over N12 billion cash from the account of the Kwara government and paid same into his accounts domiciled in Access and Zenith Banks through one of his personal assistant, Abdul Adama.
According to an affidavit deposed by an operative of the EFCC, Sadiq Olumide, in support of the suit, the move for the forfeiture of the houses followed the findings of the EFCC after investigation which showed that Saraki acquired the properties with proceeds of crime.
The affidavit read, “Whilst the investigation was ongoing several fraudulent transactions were discovered. I know for a fact and verily believe that our investigation has revealed the following mind-boggling findings, among others…
“That between 2003 and 2011, Dr. Olubukola Abubakar Saraki was the Executive Governor of Kwara State. That whilst he held the aforementioned position, the common pattern was that after payment of monthly allocation by the Federal Government to the Kwara State Government, a cumulative sum of not less than N100m will be deposited into the Kwara Government House account.
“That upon the payment of the said N100m, same will, in turn, be withdrawn in cash by one Mr. Afeez Yusuf from the Kwara State Government House, Ilorin’s account in bits and brought to the Government House.”
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