Kwankwaso invited by the EFCC over alleged N2.5bn pension fraud

A former Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwakwanso, is being probed by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission over alleged N2.5bn pension fraud.

A source in the anti-graft agency familiar with the matter said, “The commission invited Kwakwanso over the alleged N2.5bn Kano pension funds. We have grilled Kwakwanso over the matter, and he has provided some details to interrogators.”

Another source noted, “Former Kano governor, Kwakwanso has been invited by the commission . He has been grilled, and we’re continuing with our investigation.”

The spokesperson for the EFCC, Dele Oyewale declined commentover the development when contacted.

In March 2023, the PUNCH reported that the Abuja Zonal Command of the EFCC handed over documents of properties and 324 houses recovered for  the Kano State pensioners to them.

According to the EFCC spokesman at the time, the handover of the houses was occasioned by a final forfeiture order granted by Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court sitting Abuja.

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.”

Kwankwaso is being probed by the EFCC amid political tension between the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party he leads in Kano and the All Progressives Congress led by the immediate-past governor, Abdullahi Ganduje.