Former governor of Kwara State, Dr. Bukola Saraki, was on Saturday declared wanted by the Special Fraud Unit, Ikoyi, Lagos State.

In a statement made available to SUNDAY PUNCH, the SFU Public Relations Officer, Mrs. Ngozi Isintume, said Saraki was declared wanted for his refusal to honour an invitation sent to him by the SFU on April 20, 2012.

The statement read, "The SFU has declared Saraki wanted in connection with a case of suspected fraudulent conversion of depositors' funds through questionable waivers of loans and other facilities of about N9.76bn granted by the management of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc. to companies he promoted between 2004 and 2009 when he was the governor of Kwara State.

"Some of the facilities were allegedly used to buy choice properties.

"He refused to honour a police invitation to clear himself of the allegation. A duly signed warrant of arrest has been obtained against him."

Isintume also described the claims of a court injunction against the SFU as false.

Last week, Saraki's media aide Mr. Akintoga Fatigun reportedly said an injunction from an Abuja High court had been obtained against the SFU.

Fatuga had said, "Saraki has obtained an interim injunction restraining the Inspector General of Police, his officers and agents from threatening to arrest him or infringe on his rights pending the determination of the substantive suit on May 26, 2012."

However, in a telephone interview with our correspondent, the PRO said, "There is no court injunction restraining us from arresting Saraki. That claim is false. Anybody with useful information regarding his whereabouts should report to the nearest police station or contact the Office of the Commissioner of Police, SFU, 13 Milverton Road, Ikoyi, Lagos."

It was further gathered that an order for Saraki's arrest was authorised by the Federal High Court, Abuja.

A senior police officer at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, confirmed to SUNDAY PUNCH that Saraki would be arrested in line with the court order.

"We have issued a warrant for his arrest and we shall visit his house and office to carry out the court order authorising his arrest."

In a quick response to the police declaration, Saraki said he would appear before the police to answer allegations of complicity in the loan scam.

Saraki told our correspondent on the telephone through his lawyer, Mr. Lawal Rabana, SAN, that the former governor would appear before them on Monday.

He said, "Saraki had gone to court hoping that the police would respect the court having submitted to its jurisdiction.

"Now that the police have made it clear that they do not have respect for the judiciary, Saraki will now appear before the police."