EFCC recovers 324 houses, paperwork for Kano pensioners

The event was the result of an investigation carried out by the EFCC into a N4.1bn Pension Belief Fund denied pensioners by successive Kano State authorities administrations.

The EFCC probe adopted a petition by a gaggle called “Involved Kano State Employees and Pensioners” over the alleged misappropriation of pension funds within the state.

The spokesperson for the anti-graft company, Dele Oyewale, revealed the event in a press release on Monday.

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He states that the properties have been handed over to the affected individuals following an ultimate forfeiture order granted by Justice Inyang Ekwo of the Federal Excessive Court in Abuja.

Oyewale mentioned, “Findings by the EFCC confirmed that the state authorities entered into a tripartite settlement with the Kano State Pension Belief Fund to construct housing estates for a total sum of N41bn, out of which the Pension Belief Fund was to contribute N4.1bn.

“Nevertheless, the pensioners’ contribution was used to construct the homes in three estates positioned in Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmud Adam Bandirawo metropolis, Sheikh Nasiru Kabara (Amana) metropolis, and Sheikh Khalifa Ishaq Rabiu metropolis, all in Kano state. Two former governors of the state fraudulently discounted and bought the homes to their cronies and associates, leaving the pension trustees with low funds and uncompleted homes.

“The EFCC stepped in and, upon completing the investigation, filed for and bought an ultimate forfeiture order of the 324 properties to the Kano State Pension Fund Trustees.

“Whereas handing over the paperwork of the 324 properties value N4.1bn to the pensioners on Monday, March 18, 2024,  the Abuja Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Adeniyi Adebayo, assured that the EFCC would proceed to do its greatest to rid the nation of fraudulent practices.

“Representatives of the Kano State Pension Board, Hassan Aminu,  Kubra Bichi and Salisu Abubakar, who obtained the paperwork on behalf of the employees and pensioners, expressed  delight  and pleasure with the EFCC for  aiding them in recovering their homes.”