Victor EzejaThe Abuja Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has succeeded in recovering houses for 324 Kano State pensioners.
The antigraft agency on Monday handed over documents to the rightful recipients.
This followed an inquiry conducted by the EFCC into a complain about misappropriation of a N4.1 billion Pension Trust Fund that had been withheld from retired individuals by various Kano State government administrations.
According to a statement issued by the EFCC spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, on Monday, the investigation was initiated in response to a complaint submitted by a group called “Concerned Kano State Workers and Pensioners,” regarding the suspected mishandling of pension funds in the state.
The statement said: “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 N41 billion, out of which the Pension Trust Fund was to contribute N4.1 billion.
“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 the investigation, filed for and acquired a final forfeiture order of the 324 properties to the Kano State Pension Fund Trustees.”
Oyewale siad that while handing over the documents of the 324 properties worth N4.1 billion to the pensioners on Monday, the Abuja Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Adeniyi Adebayo, assured that the the Commission would continue to do its best to rid the nation of fraudulent practices.
“Representatives of the Kano State Pension Board, Hassan Aminu, Kubra Bichi and Salisu 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.” EFCC said.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
