The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Gudaji Kazaure, a former member of the House of Representatives, over alleged financial dealings with Godwin Emefiele, the embattled former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).
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According to EFCC sources, Kazaure was taken into custody after a court lifted an earlier order that had prevented his arrest. He is accused of receiving a total of N70 million from Emefiele through an intermediary. The anti-graft agency alleges that N20 million was disbursed in two tranches for the purchase of Sallah rams, while N50 million was given as a donation following a fire outbreak at Kazaure’s residence.
Kazaure, who represented Kazaure, Gwiwa, and Yankwashi federal constituencies in Jigawa State, is currently being held by the EFCC in Kano and could be formally charged in Abuja.
The arrest comes amid renewed attention on Kazaure’s past accusations against Emefiele. In 2022, the former lawmaker made headlines after claiming that Emefiele mismanaged N89 trillion in stamp duty revenue, a claim the Presidency dismissed, calling the committee he claimed to represent unauthorized and disbanded.
At the time, the Presidency also challenged the credibility of the figure, stating that the total assets of the Nigerian banking system did not even reach N50 trillion, casting serious doubt on Kazaure’s allegations.