Former Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth has been arrested in connection with a money-laundering investigation, authorities confirmed on Sunday.

The 63-year-old politician, who led the country from 2017 to 2024, was detained alongside his wife, Kobita Jugnauth, as police conducted searches at multiple locations, uncovering large sums of cash, luxury watches, and incriminating documents.

The arrests followed a directive from the island’s Financial Crimes Commission, which had issued a notice barring the Jugnauths and two other suspects from leaving the country.

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Police sources told AFP that the couple was questioned for several hours on Saturday before Kobita Jugnauth was released, while Pravind Jugnauth was placed under formal arrest in the early hours of Sunday.

Jugnauth’s lawyer, Raouf Gulbul, maintained his client’s innocence, stating, “He gave his version of events and denied the allegations made against him.” The former prime minister is expected to appear before a judge later on Sunday.

Meanwhile, raids on the homes of other suspects led to significant discoveries.

A local leisure company employee was found in possession of documents bearing the Jugnauths’ names, stacks of various currencies, and high-end timepieces.

Another suspect, a real estate executive, reportedly had suitcases filled with cash.

Jugnauth’s arrest comes just months after his Militant Socialist Movement (MSM) suffered a major defeat in the November elections, ceding power to centre-left rival Navin Ramgoolam, who became prime minister for the third time.

His administration has since reopened negotiations with Britain regarding the Chagos Islands, aiming for greater financial compensation and revised lease terms for the joint UK-US military base on Diego Garcia.

The case has sent shockwaves through Mauritius, where political dynasties like Jugnauth’s have long dominated the country’s leadership.

While the island nation boasts strong economic growth, the new government faces mounting pressure to address the rising cost of living.

In an effort to strengthen food security and enhance irrigation farming, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved billions of Naira for the expansion of 12 River Basin projects across the country.

The Director of Finance at the Hadejia Jama’are River Basin Development Authority, Musa Kwankwaso, confirmed the approval in a statement on Saturday, describing it as a major step toward agricultural revitalization, particularly in northern Nigeria.

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Kwankwaso emphasized the importance of the project in increasing food production and addressing hunger, while commending the Chairman of the House of Representatives Appropriation Committee, Abubakar Kabir Bichi, for securing budget approval for the initiative.

“The position of the House of Representatives Appropriation Committee Chairman, Bichi, on the budget approval clearly shows that he is standing with President Tinubu, and together they would be reelected in 2027,” Kwankwaso stated.

In addition to the River Basin expansion, Kwankwaso highlighted the N150 billion allocation in the 2025 Appropriation Bill for the construction of a railway line in Kano City.

According to him, the project will significantly improve transportation, boost trade, and contribute to economic growth.

“The project is expected to revolutionize transportation, enhance connectivity, facilitate trade, and boost economic growth in the city,” he said.

He further noted that the railway would enhance mobility and solidify Kano’s position as a major commercial hub.

Kwankwaso also praised the Tinubu administration’s commitment to infrastructure, particularly in the healthcare sector, citing allocations in the 2025 budget for hospital revitalization and medical investments.

“We acknowledge President Tinubu’s efforts to stimulate economic recovery and growth, as reflected in the 2025 budget’s projections, including another allocation of billions of Naira for the revitalization of over 12 dams for irrigation farming,” he added.

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has expressed strong discontent over its exclusion from the board of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), demanding immediate inclusion or threatening to disrupt the board’s scheduled meeting.

In a letter dated February 13, 2025, addressed to NELFUND’s Managing Director, Akintunde Sawyerr, and Board Chairman, Jim Ovia, NANS President Lucky Emonefe described the exclusion of students as “completely unacceptable.”

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The letter, titled ‘Final Demand for Student Representation in the Scheduled NELFUND Board’ and referenced NANS/VOL1/GA1/A254, was made public in Abuja on Saturday.

Emonefe insisted that students, as the primary beneficiaries of the fund, must be involved in decision-making processes, warning that NANS would take drastic action if its demand was ignored.

“We are writing to express our deep concern and outright discontent over the exclusion of students from the scheduled board meeting of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund,” the letter read.

“The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), as the apex student body representing over 50 million students across the country, will not stand idly by while critical decisions affecting our future are made in our absence.”

Citing the 2024 Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act, which provides for board membership from key ministries, regulatory bodies, and other stakeholders, including students, Emonefe argued that keeping students out of the decision-making process was unjustifiable.

“This fund was created for Nigerian students, and we will have a voice in how it is managed,” he declared.

“We are demanding, not requesting, the immediate inclusion of a student representative in this board meeting. Failure to accommodate this legitimate and reasonable demand will result in the total shutdown of the meeting venue by Nigerian students.”

He further stated that NANS would mobilize en masse to prevent the meeting from holding unless student representation was secured.

President Bola Tinubu signed the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) (Repeal and Re-enactment) Act, 2024 into law in April last year, establishing NELFUND to provide financial support to students.

However, NANS insists that without their participation, the board cannot fairly or effectively administer the loan scheme.

With tensions rising, it remains to be seen whether the NELFUND leadership will address NANS’ demands or risk facing large-scale protests.