The Abuja Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has handed over documents of properties and 324 houses to pensioners in Kano State, News About Nigeria reports.
This move comes after the EFCC conducted an extensive investigation into the alleged misappropriation of pension funds totaling N4.1 billion by successive administrations in Kano State.
The investigation was prompted by a petition submitted by a group known as ‘Concerned Kano State Workers and Pensioners’.
According to Dele Oyewale, the spokesperson for the anti-graft agency, the properties were handed over to the affected pensioners following a final forfeiture order granted by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.
Oyewale explained that the findings of the EFCC revealed that the Kano State government had entered into a tripartite agreement with the Kano State Pension Trust Fund to build housing estates for an aggregate sum of N41 billion.
However, out of this amount, the Pension Trust Fund was supposed to contribute N4.1 billion.
Unfortunately, instead of using the funds as intended, two former governors of the state allegedly fraudulently discounted and sold the houses built with the pensioners’ contributions to their cronies and associates.
This action left the pension trustees with low budget allocations and uncompleted houses.
Upon completion of its investigation, the EFCC filed for and acquired a final forfeiture order for the 324 properties to be returned to the Kano State Pension Fund Trustees.
During the handover ceremony held on Monday, March 18, 2024, Adeniyi Adebayo, the Abuja Zonal Commander of the EFCC, assured the pensioners that the EFCC would continue to work diligently to rid the nation of fraudulent practices.
Representatives of the Kano State Pension Board, Hassan Aminu, Kubra Bichi, and Salisu Abubakar, expressed their gratitude and joy to the EFCC for assisting them in recovering their houses.
They received the documents on behalf of the workers and pensioners.
