The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is investigating former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso over an alleged N2.5 billion pension fraud. The PUNCH newspaper reported that Kwankwaso was recently interrogated by EFCC officials regarding the matter.
An anonymous source within the EFCC disclosed, “The commission invited Kwankwaso over the alleged N2.5 billion Kano pension funds. We have grilled Kwankwaso, and he has provided some details to interrogators.” Another source confirmed that the investigation is ongoing.
EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale declined to comment on the investigation when contacted.
The EFCC’s Abuja Zonal Command previously handed over documents of 324 recovered properties to Kano State pensioners in March 2023. The properties were forfeited following a court order by Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja, stemming from investigations into a N4.1 billion Pension Trust Fund fraud.
Oyewale explained, “The state government entered into a tripartite agreement with the Kano State Pension Trust Fund to build housing estates worth N41 billion, with the Pension Trust Fund contributing N4.1 billion. However, the funds were misappropriated by two successive administrations, leaving pensioners with uncompleted houses.”
The EFCC’s investigation led to the recovery of the 324 properties, which were handed over to the pensioners in March 2024. EFCC Assistant Commander Adeniyi Adebayo assured continued efforts to combat fraud in the nation.
Representatives of the Kano State Pension Board expressed their gratitude for the EFCC’s assistance in recovering their houses.
This probe into Kwankwaso occurs amidst political tension between his New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by former Governor Abdullahi Ganduje. Recently, the state Assembly, loyal to Kwankwaso’s political ally Governor Abba Yusuf, reversed Ganduje’s 2020 decision to split the Kano emirate into five, restoring former Central Bank Governor Lamido Sanusi as the Emir of Kano.
