The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has launched an investigation into former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso concerning an alleged N2.5 billion pension fraud. Kwankwaso has been interrogated by the EFCC in relation to the allegations.
A source within the anti-graft agency, who requested anonymity due to lack of authorisation to speak publicly, stated, “The commission invited Kwankwaso over the alleged N2.5 billion Kano pension funds. He has been grilled over the matter and has provided some details to interrogators.” Another source confirmed the ongoing investigation, noting, “Former Kano governor Kwankwaso has been invited by the commission. He has been grilled, and we’re continuing with our investigation.”
When contacted, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale declined to comment on the matter.
In March 2023, the Abuja Zonal Command of the EFCC handed over documents of properties and 324 houses recovered for Kano State pensioners. The handover was facilitated by a final forfeiture order granted by Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The forfeiture followed successful EFCC investigations into a N4.1 billion Pension Trust Fund, which had been fraudulently misappropriated by two successive administrations in Kano State.
Oyewale explained, “The commission investigated a petition by Concerned Kano State Workers and Pensioners alleging misappropriation of pension funds. Findings showed that the state government entered into a tripartite agreement with the Kano State Pension Trust Fund to build housing estates for N41 billion, of which the Pension Trust Fund was to contribute N4.1 billion.”
He continued, “The pensioners’ contributions were used to build houses in three estates: Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmud Adam Bandirawo city, Sheikh Nasiru Kabara (Amana) city, and Sheikh Khalifa Ishaq Rabiu city, all in Kano State. Two former governors fraudulently discounted and sold the houses to their cronies and associates, leaving the pension trustees with incomplete, low-budget houses.”
The EFCC intervened, securing a final forfeiture order of the 324 properties to the Kano State Pension Fund Trustees. The Abuja Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Adeniyi Adebayo, handed over the documents of the 324 properties, valued at N4.1 billion, to the pensioners on March 18, 2024. Representatives of the Kano State Pension Board expressed their gratitude to the EFCC for recovering their houses.
The EFCC’s probe of Kwankwaso comes amid political tensions between the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party, which he leads in Kano, and the All Progressives Congress, led by immediate past governor Abdullahi Ganduje. Recently, the state assembly, loyal to Kwankwaso’s political godson and current governor Abba Yusuf, reversed the splitting of the Kano emirate into five by Ganduje in 2020. Yusuf also reinstated former Central Bank of Nigeria Governor Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano, following his dethronement by Ganduje.
