HOUSES worth N5.558 billion in Nigeria and abroad have been reportedly traced to the detained former Governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission {EFCC}.
Commission’s spokesperson, Mr. Femi Babafemi while confirming the development said “I can confirm fresh facts on property traced to him {Bafarawa} but I don’t have the details now”.
Operatives of the commission arrested and detained the presidential candidate of the Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) in the 2007 elections in Abuja last Wednesday over an alleged N15 billion fraud while in office.
It was gathered that his trial might not commence tomorrow as earlier planned but more likely next Tuesday.
An investigation conducted into the alleged fraud by the commission revealed that the former governor acquired a mansion in Maitama, Abuja worth N300 million, while a country home in his Bafarawa town is valued at N58 million.
The ownership of another property at 9, Radnor Palace Road, London worth 20 million British pounds {about N5.2 billion} is also said to have been traced to him.
Sunday Tribune learnt that the houses were acquired while he was in office, fuelling the commission’s allegation that they were purchased with proceeds of the alleged financial crime he committed while in office.
It was also reportedly discovered that the suspect claimed in his asset declaration form with the Code of Conduct Bureau that he had no property abroad, even though the date of purchase showed that the house was purchased before the form was filled.
The form was said to be the one he filled before commencing his second term in office in 2003.
He is being considered for a trial by the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged perjury after his trial by the anti-corruption agency.
Moves were also said to be on to have his assets seized by the commission.
All the assets, according to a source, would be listed in the charge against him, to get the court to order their forfeiture to the Sokoto State Government.
The commission had already filed a criminal charge against him at the registry of the Federal High Court, Abuja and awaiting assignment of the case to a trial judge.
A source disclosed that the commission decided to seek a remand order, so that the law would not be breached in keeping him, since it was unlikely that the arraignment would take place tomorrow as earlier primed.
In some of the allegations against him, the commission accused the former governor of conspiring with others to sell the state’s shares in United Bank of Africa {UBA} Plc without any approval by the state Executive Council as required by the law.
He was also accused of unilaterally selling the state shares in state-owned Cement Company of Northern Nigeria {CCNN} to his younger brother, Alhaji Nasir Dalhatu Bafarawa, without the executive council approval.
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