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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwakwanso, for an alleged N2.5 billion pension fraud.
Reports indicate that Kwakwanso has been invited and questioned by EFCC interrogators regarding this matter.
Recalling events from March 2023, the Abuja Zonal Command of the EFCC handed over documents of properties and 324 houses to Kano State pensioners.
These assets were recovered for the pensioners.
The EFCC spokesperson stated that the handover of the houses was facilitated by a final forfeiture order granted by Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
He further explained that the forfeiture was the outcome of successful investigations conducted by the EFCC into a N4.1bn Pension Trust Fund contributed by the pensioners for the purpose of owning houses.
However, this fund was allegedly fraudulently withheld from them by two successive administrations in Kano State.
Oyewale said, “The commission investigated a petition by Concerned Kano State Workers and Pensioners of alleged misappropriation of pension funds in the state. Findings by the EFCC showed that the state government entered into a tripartite agreement with the Kano State Pension Trust Fund to build housing estates for an aggregate sum of N41bn, out of which the Pension Trust Fund was to contribute N4.1bn.
“However, the contribution of the pensioners was used to build the houses in three estates located in Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmud Adam Bandirawo city, Sheikh Nasiru Kabara (Amana) city and Sheikh Khalifa Ishaq Rabiu city, all in Kano State and two former governors of the state fraudulently discounted and sold the houses to their cronies and associates, leaving the pension trustees with low budget and uncompleted houses.
“The EFCC stepped in and upon completion of investigation, filed for and acquired a final forfeiture order of the 324 properties to the Kano State Pension Fund Trustees.
“While handing over the documents of the 324 properties worth N4.1bn to the pensioners on Monday, March18, 2024, the Abuja Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Assistant Commander of the EFCC, Adeniyi Adebayo, assured that the EFCC would continue to do its best to rid the nation of fraudulent practices.
“Representatives of the Kano State Pension Board, Alhaji Hassan Muhammed Aminu, Kubra Ahmad Bichi and Salisu Yakubu Abubakar, who received the documents on behalf of the workers and pensioners, expressed delight and joy with the EFCC for assisting them in recovering their houses.”
The EFCC’s investigation of Kwankwaso coincides with heightened political tensions between the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party, which he leads in Kano, and the All Progressives Congress, led by the former governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.
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