By Balkis Tijani.
The Ilorin zonal office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested the Executive Director of Kwara State Harmony Holdings, Adebayo Sanni for allegedly selling some state-owned landed properties.
The Harmony Holdings director was also accused of converting some government properties located in Harmony Reserved Area of Ilorin and Galadima area of Abuja for his personal use.
A retired naval officer, Commodore J.A Taiwo (rtd), who was discovered to be a close friend and classmate of former governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, was also indicted alongside a former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairman in the state, Alhaji Ishola Balogun-Fulani.
The EFCC alleged that the retired naval officer, Taiwo was allocated three plots of land in Harmony Reserved Area Estates, Ilorin and five plots in Galadima area of Abuja without any payment to the state government, while Adebayo Sanni was reported to have allocated five plots of land in Ilorin and Abuja to himself without following due process.
The anti-graft agency revealed that properties belonging to the state government were converted and allocated to top individuals, selected businessmen and women and political associates who were close to the immediate past government between 2013 and 2019 without following due process.
The commission also stated that some of the beneficiaries who were interrogated for several hours had started refunding the monies while others promised to pay before the end of the week.
Some other beneficiaries who are reportedly under investigation include: Alhaji Isiaka Oniwa, Alhaji Jimoh Oniwa and Mrs Olapeju Fausat Ogunlade.