by Lekan Olanrewaju

Former Governor of Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki, yesterday turned himself in to the police for questioning over an alleged N9.7 billion scam. The Senator had been the subject of much controversy for previously failing to honour invitations by the police, but yesterday arrived at the office of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU) on Milverton Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.

A statement issued by his media aide, Mr. Akintoba Fatigun, stated that Saraki had been released.

“Today, following an invitation by the Special Fraud Unit (SFU), Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki visited the police headquarters, Louis Edet house, in Abuja at about 11am Monday morning to assist the police as requested in the invitation letter, concerning an investigation relating to transactions between a company named as Joy Petroleum and Intercontinental Bank Plc” read the statement.

Meanwhile, journalists were prevented by the police from speaking to, or taking pictures of, Saraki. Several journalists who were waiting inside the office of the Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, were reportedly locked in while Saraki left the courthouse, to prevent access to him.

The senator is being investigated for his involvement in an alleged loan scam which took place while he was governor of Kwara state.

A group of companies: Joy Petroleum Limited, Skyview Properties Ltd, Dicetrade, and Limkers Nigeria Ltd were allegedly given loans by Intercontinental Bank under the management of Mr. Erastus Akingbola.

The loans were allegedly promoted by Saraki between 2004 and 2009 when he was the Governor of Kwara State and used to purchase shares in companies as well as various pieces of property in Lagos and Abuja.