N9.7bn Fraud: Police declare Bukola Saraki wanted

Dr.Bukola Saraki

• Ex-gov ready to show up

The Police yesterday declared the immediate past governor of Kwara State, Dr.Bukola Saraki wanted for alleged fraud.

The Special Fraud Unit (SFU) of the police said the senator was wanted in connection with "a case of suspected fraudulent conversion of depositors’ funds through questionable waivers of loans and other facilities of about N9.76bn granted by the management of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc."
The ex-governor reacted swiftly to the police statement and said he was ready to make himself available for questioning.
The loans, according to the police, were given to "companies he (Saraki) promoted between 2004 and 2009 when he was the governor of Kwara State. Some of the facilities were allegedly used to buy choice properties."
The police said they were declaring the former governor wanted after he refused to honour their invitation to clear his name.
A warrant of arrest has been obtained against him and the police requested that anyone " with useful information regarding his whereabouts should report to the nearest Police Station or contact the Office of the Commissioner of Police, Special Fraud Unit, 13 Milverton Road, Ikoyi, Lagos."
Reacting to the police statement through his lawyer, Mr.Rafiu Lawal-Rabana (SAN), Dr.Saraki said he would appear despite the fact that he has a pending application before a Federal High Court in Abuja. Rabana said Saraki had thought the police would respect the ongoing court process and stay action pending the determination of his application..
He said: "Now that the police have made it clear that they do not have respect for the judiciary, Dr. Saraki will now appear before the court," he said.
The counsel, who spoke with newsmen on the phone, added: "Saraki is not on the run and he has no cause to run as a distinguished person."
Although he was not forthcoming on when Saraki will appear before the police, there were indications that it might be today or Monday.
Saraki had earlier asked the police to stay further action pending the determination of the suit he filed before the Federal High Court in Abuja. The ex-governor had asked the court to determine "whether it is not a violation of the plaintiff’s right under section 34(a) and section 35 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) for the Defendant to invite the plaintiff to appear before the police without any allegations and or accusations specifically made against him.
The former governor’s media aide, Akintoba Fatigun also confirmed that he will appear at SFU on Monday.