Saraki speaks as EFCC allegedly moves to seize his Ilorin property 

Bukola Saraki, former president of the Senate, has raised alarm over an alleged move by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to seize his house in Ilorin, Kwara state. 

Saraki claimed that the anti-graft commission had filed a process at a Federal High Court in Lagos on Wednesday, November 27, praying for an interim order for the forfeiture of the property. 

It was reported that the allegations were contained in a statement released by Yusuph Olaniyonu who is Saraki’s spokesperson.

 He further claimed that the EFCC’s alleged move is illegal just as he explained that an Abuja Federal High Court had restrained the commission from seizing his properties. 

 The EFCC is probing Saraki for allegedly withdrawing over N12 billion cash from the account of the Kwara government while serving as governor of the state between 2003 and 2011. The Kwara ex-governor’s spokesperson, however, claimed that his principal built the Ilorin house which the commission wants to seize after he left office as governor. 

“We will like to put it on record that the Ilorin home of Dr. Saraki was built after he left office as Governor and came about through his lawful pensions and personal fund. The application for forfeiture of this property, therefore, amounts to witch-hunt, abuse of power and miscarriage of justice,” the statement partly reads. 

The former Senate president expressed readiness to face the anti-graft commission in court over the new development. 

Meanwhile, reports earlier showed that a Federal High Court sitting Lagos on Monday, October 21, ordered the temporary forfeiture of a property belonging to Saraki. 

The court in its ruling granted EFCC the interim forfeiture of the property located at 17A McDonald Road, Ikoyi, Eti Osa local government area of Lagos. 

The commission had in an application told the court that the property was acquired from “proceeds of unlawful activities”. 

Credit: Legit