EFCC arrests ex-Lawmaker for receiving N70m from Emefiele

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former House of Representatives member, Gudaji Kazaure, over an alleged N70 million payment he reportedly received from former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

According to insider sources, EFCC operatives picked up Kazaure on Wednesday shortly after a Kano High Court vacated a restraining order that had earlier shielded him from arrest and prosecution.

According to a source at the EFCC, Mr Kazaure received N20m in two tranches from through Mr Emefiele’s emissary named Mr Eric to buy “Sallah Rams”.

The source further stated that Mr Kazaure subsequently received the sum of N50m as “donation” from Mr Emefiele, following a fire incident at the former lawmaker’s residence.

The source said Mr Kazaure is currently detained at the commission’s office in Kano and may be brought to Abuja to face charges.

In December 2022, Mr Kazaure accused the then CBN governor of corruption, alleging that N89.1 trillion Stamp Duty charges were missing under Mr Emefiele.

The lawmaker also alleged that he was deliberately being denied access to present a preliminary report of a committee set up by President Muhammadu Buhari to examine the alleged stamp duty funds being withheld by the CBN.

The presidency, in a statement by the then presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, however countered Mr Kazaure’s allegations as untrue, adding that the said committee had since been dissolved.

(DAILY NIGERIAN)