EFCC arrests Kwara director, others over alleged theft of govt properties

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin chapter, on Monday arrested the Executive Director of Kwara state Harmony Holdings, Adebayo Sanni.

His arrest followed allegation of illegal sale of some landed properties belonging to the state government.

He was also accused of converting state government properties to personal use.

The said properties are located in Harmony Reserved Area of Ilorin, the state capital, and Galadima area of Abuja.

Others involved in the controversial land purchase include a close friend of the immediate past governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, Commodore J.A Taiwo (rtd) and former Peoples Democratic Party chairman in the state, Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani.

Other beneficiaries who are still under the investigation of the EFCC are Alhaji Isiaka Oniwa, Alhaji Jimoh Oniwa, and Mrs Olapeju Fausat Ogunlade.

It was alleged that Mr. Sanni and the retired naval officer who are said to be classmates of Alhaji Ahmed, converted some of the state government properties located in Ilorin and Abuja to their personal use.

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It was gathered that the retired military chief was allocated three plots in Harmony Reserved Area Estate in Ilorin and five plots in Galadima area of Abuja without paying a dime to the government.

The state executive director was said to have allocated five plots of land in Ilorin and Abuja to himself without following due process.

It was also gathered that the commission discovered that properties belonging to the state were converted and allocated to highly placed individuals, selected businessmen and women and political associates who were close to the then government without following the due process.

Some of the beneficiaries who were grilled for several hours by the operatives of the commission had started paying their monies while others promised to pay before the end of this week.

The operatives of the anti-graft body had gathered intelligence reports that some of the properties (both movable and immovable) belonging to the state government were diverted and shared by highly placed individuals between 2013 and now, which led to the arrest of the suspects.

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