Twenty officials of the Kwara State Government have been investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ilorin Zone.

Twenty officials of the Kwara State Government have been investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ilorin Zone.

The Zone comprises Kwara, Ekiti and Kogi States.

At a news conference in Ilorin, the state capital, Tuesday, head of the zone, Mr Ishaku Shari, said over 15 properties of the affected officials of government in choice Ares of Ilorin metropolis, ranging from hotels, filling stations, residential accommodation and micro-finance, had been uncovered and investigated.

“The affected senior officials ranging in status from assistant directors, accountant, to treasurers among others, and whose monthly salaries are not more than N90,000.”

He added that N10bn stolen by the immediate past government was intercepted and saved for the current administration.

“You will agree with me that official corruption is the greatest killer as those officials who ordinarily are supposed to guard and protect state resources have turned out to misappropriate it.

“To this end, the commission beamed it’s searchlight on the Kwara state officials and on a credible tip of the commission is currently investigating over 15 properties in choice areas within Ilorin metropolis ranging from hotels, filling stations, residential accommodation, micro-finance among others.

“It will shock you to hear that the alleged owners are civil servants whose salary per month is not more than N90,000. Some have confessed and the matter is in court,” Shari hinted.

The Zonal head told newsmen that the commission successfully intercepted billions of naira that the last administration allegedly wanted to pilfer few days to its exit.

He noted that it has always been a tradition in the country except microscopic 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 24th and 29th May,2019, when the state received FAAC,JAAC,VAT and tax refund from the Federal government to the tune of N10bn.

“I can authoritatively tell you that we saved the state last minute attempted financial misappropriation of those billions.”

Mr. Shari said also that since the commission commenced operations in Ilorin in December 2018, N50m cash had been recovered from fraudsters based on petitions and the money returned to the real owners.

“These include recoveries from some state legislators who allegedly duped some people. The commission also has over N200m on interim forfeiture,” he added.

He said the commission was fighting internet fraudsters in the zone to a standstill as 29 cases had been charged to both state and federal high courts while 15 of the cases in courts had been convicted, with their exotic cars and monies running into millions of naira in their bank accounts forfeited to the Federal government.