EFCC arraigns Senate President’s cousin?

EFCC alleged that Ope, who served under the current Kwara state Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, used his position to enrich himself.

Ope Saraki, former Kwara Special Adviser on Millennium Development Goals, and alleged cousin to the Senate President, Bukola Saraki has been arraigned in court for N371m fraud, reports say.
Punch reports that Ope, who served under the current Kwara state Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, used his position to enrich himself.

The charge against him reads: “That you, Ope Saraki, being the Special Adviser on Millennium Development Goals to Governor of Kwara State sometime in 2012 at Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this honourable court did by undue interest conducted procurement fraud in the procurement of 13 units of ambulance for 13 General Specialists Hospitals in Kwara State at the sum of N171,990, 000,
a contract awarded to Chemiroy Nigeria Limited and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 58 (4) (b) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 and punishable under Section 58 (5) 0f the same Act.”

EFCC alleged that the former SA defrauded the state by inflating and awarding to contracts to companies owned by his close associates.

Meanwhile, Bukola Saraki is preparing for his trial before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), after his appeal was dismissed by the Supreme Court.

The Senate has also condemned calls by some Nigerians for the resignation of the Senate President.
The Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, has also said that the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, will not resign from his position unless he is convicted by the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).