Saraki didn’t benefit from Paris loan refund, says Kwara govt

The Kwara state government has denied the allegation that Senate President Bukola Saraki benefited from the Paris-London Club loan refund of Kwara.

Saraki was accused of taking N2.5 billion out of the first batch of payments made to the state.

The senate president has since denied the allegations.

In a statement on Friday, Muideen Akorede, senior special assistant on media to Abdulfatah Ahmed, governor of Kwara, said the money was fully utilised for infrastructural projects.

“The Kwara state government wishes to reaffirm that its share of the Paris-London Club refund from the federal government was fully utilised for infrastructure projects, MSME support and infrastructure projects as well as payment of  salaries and pensions at state and local government levels,” Akorede said in a statement.

“The public is therefore advised to disregard spurious and completely unsubstantiated claims made by a guest on a national television program on Thursday or similar assertions on any other platform to the effect that part of the state’s share of the refund was paid to a former governor of the state and current senate president, Dr. Bukola Saraki or to any other party.

“It is not the state government’s practice to make payments to individuals or organisations without appropriation.”