EFCC: Former Kano Speaker Nabbed over N1.5bn Fraud, Zamfara Man Forfeits Jeep and N60mn

EFCC: Former Kano Speaker Nabbed over N1.5bn Fraud, Zamfara Man Forfeits Jeep and N60mn

EFCC Nabs former Kano State Assembly Speaker for N1.5b Fraud

The Kano State Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Tuesday, February 26, 2010, arrested the former speaker and now minority leader of the Kano State House of Assembly, Isiyaku Ali Danja for alleged abuse of office and misappropriation of fund meant for constituency projects.

Danja got into trouble following a petition that funds meant for payment of tax liabilities to Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) by Kano State Government were allegedly diverted and misappropriated to the tune of over N1, 500,000,000 (One Billion, Five Hundred Thousand Naira) from the sub-treasury account of the state government.

Several suspicious payments were allegedly traced to some beneficiaries, including some made to Allad Drilling Limited, a company in which the suspect is the sole signatory.

Investigation by the EFCC further revealed that the funds were on several occasions, personally withdrawn in cash by the suspect, while he was the only one who could officially state whether jobs were done before any payments could be made.

It would be recalled that the EFCC had earlier arrested the commissioner for Special Duties in state, Mukhtar Ishaq, for allegedly diverting funds meant for Kano Municipal Local Government while he was chairman of the said local government.

Mukhtar was arrested by EFCC following a petition that alleged that while he was chairman of Kano Municipal, he diverted funds meant for projects, development and empowerment of the people.

The petitioner further alleged that Mukhtar ordered the deduction of N30, 000 (Thirty Thousand Naira), from the account of each council member without justification.

Mukhtar was also alleged to have converted property of Kofar Nasarawa Primary School, Kano, into shops and sold same at the rate of N10,000,000 (Ten Million Naira), per shop and diverted the money to personal use.

Both suspects would be charged to court on completion of investigations.

Tony Orilade
Acting Head, Media & Publicity
Tony Orilade
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EFCC Secures Final Forfeiture of N60 million, Prado Jeep
Justice Fadima Murtala Aminu of the Federal High Court, sitting in Gusau, Zamfara State, on Tuesday, February 25, 2020, granted the prayers of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Sokoto Zonal Office, for the final forfeitures of N60, 000, 000 (Sixty Million Naira) cash recovered from Murtala Muhammad.

The Commission’s Sokoto Zonal Office had on Tuesday, May 28, 2019, arrested Muhammad who was conveying the amount in four ‘Ghana-must-go’ bags inside a Black Land Cruiser Prado Jeep with registration No: DKA 67 PX (Kaduna), at No.145 Igala Hausing Estate, off By-pass Road Gusau, Zamfara State.

The Judge also granted the final forfeiture to the federal government, of the Prado Jeep which was the carrier of the money.

The court had earlier directed a publication in national dailies for any person or persons claiming the funds to come forward and defend such.

Justice Fadima held that: “A final forfeiture order of this honourable court is hereby granted, forfeiting to the Federal Government of Nigeria the money sum of N60,000,000.00 (Sixty Million Naira) and a Black Land Cruiser Prado Jeep which are reasonably suspected to be proceeds of unlawful activity.”

Tony Orilade
Acting Head, Media & Publicity