EFCC arrests ex-lawmaker over alleged N70m cash gift from Emefiele

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Gudaji Kazaure, over allegations of receiving N70 million from the embattled former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele.

According to DAILY NIGERIAN, Kazaure was taken into custody on Wednesday shortly after a Kano High Court lifted an earlier restraining order that had temporarily halted his arrest.

According to EFCC insiders, the controversial lawmaker allegedly received N20 million in two instalments from Emefiele, delivered through an intermediary identified as Mr. Eric, purportedly to purchase Sallah rams.

Further investigations reportedly revealed that Kazaure later received an additional N50 million as a “donation” from Emefiele following a fire incident that gutted his residence.

Kazaure is currently being detained at the EFCC office in Kano, and officials say he may be transferred to Abuja in the coming days to face possible charges.

This development comes nearly two years after Kazaure publicly accused Emefiele of mismanaging stamp duty revenues to the tune of N89.1 trillion. In December 2022, he alleged that the CBN had failed to remit massive stamp duty collections and that a presidential committee set up by Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the matter had been frustrated in its efforts.

However, the presidency at the time, through a statement by then-spokesman Garba Shehu, dismissed Kazaure’s claims as false, clarifying that the committee in question had already been dissolved and that the allegations lacked merit.

As of the time of this report, neither Kazaure nor his legal representatives have issued an official statement on his arrest.

(With additional information from Daily Nigerian)