EFCC secures interim forfeiture order against two of Bukola Saraki's Ikoyi houses

FORMER senate president and Kwara State governor Senator Bukola Saraki has temporarily forfeited two Lagos homes to the federal government after the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) secured a court order against him.

Senator Saraki served as Kwara State governor between 2003 and 2011 and as senate president between 2015 and 2019 but now that he is out of office, the EFCC is probing him. Out of favour with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after he decamped last year and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Saraki is a high profile target the anti-graft body is going after.

Today, the EFCC secured an interim order of forfeiture in the Lagos federal high court against Senator Saraki over two properties he owns in the Ikoyi area of  Lagos state. EFCC counsel Nnaemeka Omewa, had approached the court, seeking the order of the properties located on McDonald Road, Ikoyi in Eti Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, saying that they were acquired through proceeds of unlawful activities

Senator Saraki, 56, who lost a senate re-election bid in Kwara State during February's elections, has long been plagued by allegations of corrupt enrichment in public office. Before his defection to the opposition PDP from the ruling APC in July last year, he was tried for false declaration of assets, corruption and money laundering but was eventually cleared of the charges by the Supreme Court.

Today, after ordering the temporary forfeiture of the properties, Justice Mohammed Liman directed the EFCC to publish the order in a national newspaper. He gave 14 days for Senator Saraki or anyone interested in the properties to appear before him to show cause why the houses should not be permanently forfeited to the federal government.