Kwara Denies Giving Saraki Part of Paris Loan Refund

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The Kwara State government has reacted to speculations that it gave part of the Paris loan refund to the Senate President, Mr Bukola Saraki.

In a statement issued by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communication to the Governor, Mr Miudeen Akorede, the state government said nothing of such ever happened.

Mr Akorede explained that the state’s share of the Paris-London Club refund from the Federal Government was “fully utilized for infrastructure projects, MSME support and infrastructure projects as well as payment of salaries and pensions at state and local government levels.”

“It is not the state government’s practice to make payments to individuals or organizations without appropriation,” Mr Akorede stressed.

He then urged the public 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 Mr Saraki, who was a former Governor of the state.