EFCC uncovers how Kwara ex- finance commissioner, 24 ex- lawmakers allegedly swindled N5bn

The Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has allegedly uncovered how the 24 former lawmakers of the Kwara State House of Assembly, the immediate past Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu and some companies allegedly swindled about N5 billion belonging to the Kwara State Internal Revenue Service (KWIRS) between 2015 and 2019.

The immediate past Chairman of the KWIRS, Prof. Muritala Awodun, a former member of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Moshood Bakare, and some staff of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), are presently being interrogated by the operatives of the EFCC.

It was discovered during investigations that about five companies linked to some highly placed politicians in the state allegedly benefited to the tune of N4 billion from the money without any valid contractual agreements with the state government. Other alleged beneficiaries included the 24 former lawmakers, the Speaker, Dr. Ali Ahmad, former Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, former Kwara State Accountant General, Ishola Sulyman, and some permanent secretaries.

A member of staff of the KWIRS (name withheld) while being interrogated by the operatives of the Commission reportedly said: “The House of Assembly members were collecting N4 million monthly for public relations, which they shared among themselves.

“The former Kwara State Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, was collecting five million naira every month without working for it, in fact, Mr. Banu was collecting it in cash. I do take it to his house, if we don’t give him, he won’t approve anything we take to him.”

On his part, Bakare, a former chairman of House Committee on Appropriation and Finance, said: “They do send the money, four million naira monthly, into the account of my personal assistant, who is presently being detained by the EFCC. “He will then withdraw the money and give it to me, I will now hand it over to the Speaker, Dr. Ali Ahmad, who will now share it to all the honourable members.

“Some honourable members do collect the money in cash while some will insist that the money be transferred into their accounts.” It was further discovered that a Personal Assistant to the former governor of Kwara State, Rafiu Olasile, allegedly received the sum of N10 million cash from one of the aides to the exchairman of House Committee on Appropriation and Finance.