The Zonal Head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission in Ilorin, Kwara State, Isyaku Sharu, has said the body recovered over 10 properties and cash worth over N3.6bn from “treasury looters” in the state since February when it began operation in the state.
Sharu said the properties included houses in GRA, Ilorin, which worth over billion naira, while the anti-graft agency also helped the state’s government to save over N4bn in tax refund.
He made the remarks at the International Anti Corruption Day Rally organised by the commission in Ilorin, the state capital.
According to him, “It is pertinent to know that at the eve of the last handover, the commission saved the Kwara State Government over N4bn of tax refund. Currently, ongoing investigation into the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service led to the recovery of about N50m while efforts are in top gear to recover the remaining of about N4bn from some notable individuals fingered in the KWIRS saga.”
Sharu said the rally was an advocacy to further create awareness for the world to unite against corruption.
Speaking at the rally, Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said he would have inherited an empty treasury if the account of the state government had not been frozen on the eve of his inauguration, recalling that only the N4.8bn tax refund seized by the EFCC was inherited from the past administration.
“That N4.8bn is in our cash reserve. We have not touched it. It will be used to balance the budget for next year. It will be invested in our schools, road infrastructure, among others.
“We thank the Ilorin Zonal Office of EFCC for the recoveries they’ve made. When we came into power, there would have been nothing to inherit. The past government told us that they left a debt of N30bn but so far we are looking at the debt of almost N100bn.
“We don’t see this march as that of the law enforcement agency (alone). It is a march for everybody and the important message for all of us is, if we don’t kill corruption, it will kill all of us,” AbdulRazaq added.
Kwara State House of Assembly Speaker, Salihu Yakubu Danladi, commended the anti-graft body for its advocacy against corruption, adding that it is pertinent for everyone to partner with the EFCC to kill corruption and save Nigeria in general.”
The rally was attended by hundreds of people, including top public servants like the Deputy Governor, Kayode Alabi, and the Secretary to the Kwara State Government, Professor Mamman Saba Jibri.