The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's Abuja Zonal Command has transferred the paperwork and 324 homes recovered for Kano State pensioners to the affected individuals.
This happened after the EFCC looked into a case involving N4.1 billion Pension Trust Fund contributed by pensioners for the purpose of owning houses, which were unfairly denied to them by two successive Kano State Government administrations.
The EFCC started investigating based on a complaint by a group called “Concerned Kano State Workers and Pensioners,” regarding the alleged mishandling of pension funds in the state.
The anti-corruption agency's spokesperson, Dele Oyewale, announced the development in a statement on Monday.
He mentioned that the affected individuals received the properties as a result of a final forfeiture order issued by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Oyewale stated, “The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's Abuja Zonal Command has transferred the paperwork and 324 houses recovered for Kano State pensioners to the affected individuals.
“This transfer of houses, which was made possible by a final forfeiture order issued by Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, was a result of successful investigations carried out by the commission regarding an N4.1 billion Pension Trust Fund contributed by the pensioners for owning houses, which was deceitfully withheld by two successive administrations in Kano State.
“The commission examined a complaint by Concerned Kano State Workers and Pensioners about the alleged misuse of pension funds in the state. According to EFCC's findings, the state government made a tripartite agreement with the Kano State Pension Trust Fund to construct housing estates for a total of N41 billion, out of which the Pension Trust Fund was supposed to contribute N4.1 billion.
“However, the pensioners' contribution was used to construct 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. Subsequently, two former governors of the state improperly discounted and sold the houses to their associates and allies, leaving the pension trustees with limited funds and incomplete houses.
“The EFCC intervened and, after completing the investigation, obtained a final forfeiture order for the 324 properties to the Kano State Pension Fund Trustees.
“While presenting the paperwork for the 324 properties worth N4.1 billion to the pensioners on Monday, March 18, 2024, the Abuja Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Adeniyi Adebayo, assured that the EFCC would continue to work diligently to eradicate fraudulent activities in the nation.
“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.”
