THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday revealed that it prevented the immediate past administration in Kwara State from allegedly misappropriating N10 billion between May 24 and May 29, 2019.
It added that it is investigating over 15 properties belonging to civil servants in choice areas of Ilorin, the state capital
The Ilorin Zonal Head of EFCC, Isyaku Sharu, while addressing reporters in Ilorin on the activities of the commission in the last six months, added that the commission had charged no fewer than 29 internet cases to both Federal and state high courts.
Sharu noted that the commission had secured 15 convic
He added that the courts also ordered the forfeiture of their exotic cars and money running to millions of Naira in their accounts to the Federal Government.
The EFCC Zonays been a tradition in the country, except to macroscopic few, that whenever any government is exiting, it will indulge in mass pilferage as the last minute golden opportunity. Hence, our resolve to mount surveillance on all Kwara State government accounts between May, 24 and 29, 2019, when the states received Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC), Joint Account and Allocation Committee (JAAC), Value Added Tax (VAT) and tax refund from the Federal Government to the tune of about N10 billion.
“I can authoritatively tell you that we saved the state last-minute attempted misappropriation of those billions.
“You will agree with me that official corruption is the greatest killer as officials who ordinarily supposed to guard and protect state resources turned out to misappropriate them. To this end, the commission beams its searchlight on the state officials and on a credible tip-off, the commission is currently investigating 15
properties in choice areas within Ilorin metropolis. The properties range from hotels, filling stations, residential accommodation to microfinance banks.
“It will shock you to hear that the alleged owners are civil servants, whose earning per month is not more than 90 per cent. Some have confessed to the commission and the matter is in court. In fact, we
discovered about N3 billion in the accounts of two of them, who are not up to assistant directors in the ministry.”
On internet fraud, the EFCC boss said: “It is a menace, which devastating effect traverses the socio-political and socio-economic well-being of the nation. The perpetrators are youth within the age bracket of 18 and 25, who the country is looking up to as the future leaders. The economic implication of internet fraud is such that no serious foreign investor would want to do business within a jurisdiction, where the menace of internet fraud prevails.
“Since our assumption of office in December, last year, in Ilorin, a torrent of petitions started trickling in and as usual, the commission swung into action. As I speak to you, the commission had cash recovery of over N50 million, which was returned to the victims of fraud on bond. This includes properties from some legislators, who allegedly duped some people. The commission has also over N2 million interim forfeiture.”