Conventional wisdom goes that a man who is already down should be spared from further troubles but the law is no respecter of conventional wisdom. And neither, it turns out, are anti-corruption agencies when they are in the mood to do their jobs. The former president of the senate, Bukola Saraki can testify.
While still trying to come to terms with his abrupt relegation from the sphere of power, the EFCC continue to hound him legally, from one court to another.
Saraki might not be totally dead and buried, but the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) are doing their part to drive a few more nails into the coffin of his wealth and relevance. Few days back, the Federal High Court in Lagos ordered the temporary forfeiture of some of Saraki’s properties in Lagos.
The EFCC had told the court that the properties were bought with money illegally withdrawn from the coffers of the Kwara State government when Saraki Junior — son of the late strongman of Kwara politics Abubakar Olusola Saraki — held sway as the governor.
He stands accused, among other things, of making off with over ₦12 billion in cash from the state till, using one of his lieutenants, Abdul Adama, as front to deposit same in accounts domiciled with Access and Zenith banks. The court certainly seemed to be convinced of the prosecution’s submission, hence the temporary forfeiture order.
The camp of the former senate president has however rubbished the judgment as something that cannot stand a legal challenge. They claimed they weren’t notified of the EFCC’s application for a forfeiture order.
They also pointed to a restraining order barring the EFCC from taking any action pending the determination of the substantive suit in the wide-ranging case of Saraki vs The Law.
While Saraki and his allies arm themselves for another round of legal fireworks against the government machinery yell bent in ringing him down, his sister continues to enjoy the dividends of the successful “O to ge” movement which helped to whittle down her brother’s influence in Kwara.