Group Drags Saraki to Court over Alleged Diversion of N252.3m Pension Funds
A Non-Governmental Organisation, under the aegis of Awareness Against Corruption and Social Vices Initiative, has charged the former Kwara State governor, Senator Bukola Saraki, to National Industrial Court sitting in Akure, Ondo State capital for diverting N252,295,265.00 meant for the state pensioners in the state during his administration.
Saraki who served as the state governor between May 29, 2003 and May 29, 2011, also became a senate president in 2015 to 2019.
In the Suit No: NICH| IL06/2022 dated September 19, 2022, the claimant, Awareness Against Corruption and Social Vices Initiative listed Eptech Nigeria Limited as 1st defendant; Senator Bokola Saraki as 2nd defendant; Kwara State governor, AbdulRasaq AbdulRahman as 3rd defendant; Kwara State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Ibrahim Sulyman, as 4th defendant, Carliste Property and Investment Limited as 5th defendant.
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The suit read, “LET the 1st ddefendant of No. 12a, Creek Road, Apapa, Lagos State, 2nd defendant of GRA Area Ilorin, Kwara State; 3rd Defendant of Governors Office, Ilorin, Kwara State, 4th defendant of Kwara State Ministry of Justice, Ilorin Kwara State and the 5th defendant of No. 30, Saka Tinubu Street, Victoria Island, Lagos State within 14days after service of this summon on them, inclusive of the day of such service, cause an appearance to be respectively entered for them to this summons which is issued upon the application of Citizens Awareness Against Corruption and Social Vices Initiative of c/o, Suite 5, Fate/GSS Complex, Fate Road, Ilorin, Kwara State, who claim to be entitled to the reliefs hereunder, for the determination of the following questions:
“1. Whether by the combined provision of Section 2(3) paragraph C (1) of the Third
Schedule of the Governor and Deputy Governor (payment of pension) Law, 2010 (now repealed), monetization of a five-bedroom duplex stipulated by Law to the tune of Two Hundred and Fifty Two Million, Two Hundred and Ninety Five, Two Hundred and Sixty Five Naira (N252,295,265.00) by hte 3rd defendant in favour of the 2nd defendant is not illegal, unlawful, null and void.
“2. Whether the payment of the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Two Million, Two Hundred and Ninety-Five, Two Hundred and Sixty Five Naira (N252,295,265.00) to the 1st
defendant by the 3rd and 4th defendants pursuant to the Governor and Deputy Governor (Payment of pension) Law 2010 (now repealed) is not illegal, unlawful, thanks and void.
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“3. Whether, it is unlawful and illegal for the 1st defendant to collect the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Two Million, Two Hundred and Ninety Five, Two Hundred and Sixty Five Naira (N252, 295, 265.00) from the 3rd and 4th defendants as pension package of the 2nd defendant pursuant ot the Governor and Deputy Governor (Payment of Pension) Law 2010 without erecting any building for the 2nd defendant whatsoever, in Kwara State.
“WHEREOF the Claimant seeks the following reliefs:
”1. A DECLARATION that by the combined provisions of Section 2(3) paragraph C (1) of the Third Schedule of the Governor and Deputy Governor (payment of pension) Law, 2010 (now repealed), the monetisation of a five-bedroom duplex by the 3rd defendant in favour of the 2nd defendant is illegal, unlawful, nul and void.
“2. A DECLARATION that the payment of the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty-Two Million,
Two Hundred and Ninety Five, Two Hundred and Sixty-Five Naira (N252,295,265.00) to the 1st Defendant by the 3″‘ and 4″ Defendant si ilegal, unlawful, nul and void.
”3. A DECLARATION that it is unlawful and illegal for the 1st defendant to collect the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty-Two Million, Two Hundred and Ninety-Five, Two Hundred and Sixty Five Naira (N252,295,265.00) as pension package of the 2nd Defendant without erecting any building for the 2nd defendant in Kwara State.
“4. AN ORDER of this Honorable Court compelling the 1st and 2nd defendants to immediately forthwith jointly and severally refund the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty-Two Million, Two Hundred and Ninety-Five, Two Hundred and Sixty Five Naira (N252,295, 265.00) illegally collected from Kwara State government to the 3rd and 4th defendants.
The summon was signed by A.B. Adebayo Esq., F.O. Bakare, Esq., S. O. Ibrahim Esq., the Counsels for the claimant, Onlede Olumuyiwa, on September 19, 2022.
While arguing their point, the claimant’s counsels corroborated that there is a link among defendants 1, 2 and 5 and that is why it was easy for them to get the money without appropriate measures on their action.
They prayed the court to resolve three issues in favour of the Claimant and against the Defendants; therefore, this Honorable Court is urged to grant all the reliefs of the Claimant which are to seize the property, auction it and deposit the proceeds made into the state government’s coffer.
