By Adeniyi Adedeji, Ilorin

The Ilorin Zonal Office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, has informed the Kawara State government that a sum of N130 million looted fund recovered from the past administration is ready for pick up by the state government.

Making this known during a visit to the state governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, in his office in Ilorin, the state capital, was the new Zonal Head of EFCC in the state, Oseni Kazeem.

This was just as the state governor, slides the EFCC for helping his state to restore sanity and accountability in the public service and his administration.

The governor had earlier explained how recovered funds had helped to stabilise the government when he was inaugurated in May 2019, hinting that his administration would soon receive another tranche of recovered looted funds from the EFCC.

Adding that his administration was committed to openness and probity in its own activities to avoid the treatment meted to some former government officials, AbdulRazaq said that his administration did this especially because the new administration was a product of a struggle that ousted a system many criticised for its corrupt tendencies.

He said, “The EFCC is an institution that must not be allowed to die. It has come to stay and it must remain. National and sub-national governments must give full support that the organisation requires.

“On our part, we will always give you the support and cooperation you need. Let me also thank you for the activities of your organisation.

“We have been able to collect from your office hundreds of millions of naira. We will put it to good use. Your effort has stabilised this government.

“When we came in, we received the federal government tax refund of N4.8 billion paid to the Kwara State Government.”

The governor disclosed that the money came in few days before his inauguration and the EFCC made sure that the fund was not frittered away, even though there were vouchers to (quickly) spend the money.

The governor added, “We know why people voted us in and we know why they voted out the previous administration. We don’t want to repeat the same mistakes committed by the previous administration.

“There is no way our government can influence you because even the President does not interfere in your activities.”

Kazeem, the new EFCC helmsman commended the governor for his giant strides and his attempts to bring governance closer to the people.

He announced that the zonal office has received approval from its headquarters to hand over another N130 million recovered looted funds to the state government.

He said, “We felt obliged to pay you a visit and identify with your good governance, because it’s when there is good governance that the citizens will reap the fruits of their labour.

“If there is a good government that is bereft of economic and financial crimes that is when the populace will enjoy the democracy we all fought for.

“We are here (Ilorin) to deter people from committing economic and financial crimes in the society. We all know that crime is inevitable in human society.

“It is almost impossible not to see criminal elements when two or three are gathered. But the EFCC is here to fish out the criminal elements and deal with them according to the law.”

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