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Tag: Kwara

  • We’ll invest looted funds in social programme – Kwara Gov

    We’ll invest looted funds in social programme – Kwara Gov

    Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara has said that the looted funds recently returned to the state would go into social investment programme to benefit the poor.

    Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye said this in a statement on Friday in Ilorin.

    According to Ajakaye, Gov AbdulRazaq said so when he received N111, 428, 891 from the Zonal Head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Isyaku Sharu.

    “By the grace of God, this money will go into social investment programme of the state. It is going into lifting thousands of people out of poverty.

    “We are not going to award contracts with this money. It is going to help the poor people,” AbdulRazaq said.

    AbdulRazaq commended the anti-graft body for their efforts and service to the country, assuring them that the funds would only go into serving the downtrodden.

    The governor, therefore, called on the people of the state to continue to support the anti-graft body.

    “We thank the EFCC for what they are doing. We are happy that in our state you keep us on our toes.

    “Unlike what many people may perceive, EFCC are partners in progress all over the federation. So, we should join hands with them and assist them,” he said.

    AbdulRazaq said his administration is replicating many of the Federal Government’s social programmes to make life better for the people, adding that the state’s Social Investment Programme Bill is already with the State House of Assembly.

    “We are replicating many of Federal Government programmes in Kwara, especially the social investment programme, which people know as Trader moni, market moni, N-power and school feeding programme.

    “The Social Investment Programme Bill has already passed second reading and this money will go into the programme. We are not going to waste or mismanage it,” he said.

    Speaking earlier at the handing over of the looted funds, the state zonal head of the EFCC, Isyaku Sharu, said the money had been recovered from “treasury looters” in Kwara and that the agency had so far recorded 29 convictions.

    “We have 29 convictions and over N500 million recovery of both assets and cash; part of this recovery is the N111, 428, 891.00 cash recovery for the Kwara State government,” Sharu said.

    “This recovery is from suspected Kwara state treasury looters. The suspects are alleged to have criminally misappropriated landed properties of Harmony holdings, while other diverted funds meant for the micro, small and medium credit scheme.

    “The suspects cut across political office holders, traditional rulers and top civil servants,” he added.

    Sharu stated that he was mandated by the Chairman of the Commission, Ibrahim Magu, to present the recovered loot as part of their contribution in getting rid of economic and financial crime-related offences in the state.

  • Videos: How some Nigerians celebrated 59th Independence stranded on dilapidated bridge in Kwara

    Videos: How some Nigerians celebrated 59th Independence stranded on dilapidated bridge in Kwara

    A video has emerged of how some Nigerians were caught up on Monday, October 1 (Nigeria’s 59th Independence Day) trying to make use of a dilapidated bridge linking Sarki and Ilorin in Kwara State.

    According to the video obtained exclusively by TNG, the bridge, said to be owned by the Federal Government is in total ruins. Pedestrians were seen risking their lives on the bridge to get to their various destinations.

    An aggrieved narrator who spoke in Yoruba Language however expressed his anger while stating that there was nothing to celebrate after 59 years of independence if people still experience such terrible living conditions in this age and time.

    Watch videos below:

     

  • FBI List: Court remands man over N1.4m Internet fraud in Kwara

    A Kwara High Court in Ilorin, on Thursday ordered that Joseph Oyediran, a Nigerian wanted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the U.S.,who allegedly defrauded an American of N1.4 million, be remanded in a correctional facility,

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) charged Oyediran,36, with five counts of internet fraud and other fraud-related offences, obtaining money under false pretences, among others.

    Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar, ordered that the defendant be remanded in the Nigerian Correction Service facility in Mandalla, Ilorin.

    Abdulgafar adjourned the case until Sept. 29, for hearing.

    The EFCC alleged that Oyediran, also known as Joe Graves, sometime in May 2015, with intent to defraud, obtained the sum of N1. 4 million from Ms Andrea Smith, an American woman.

    The EFCC Counsel, Mr Sesan Ola, said that the offence is punishable under Section 1(3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud-related Offences Act.

    Ola told the court, “My lord, we urge the court to accept the charge and allow the defendant to take his plea.

    Counsel to the defendant, Mr M.A. Bello, however, did not object to the application.

    Oyediran, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

  • Kwara rejects Saraki’s donation to schools, gives reason

    The Kwara State Government has said that personalising constituency project was responsible for Kwara public schools’ rejection of instructional materials donated by the former President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki.

    A statement from the Press Secretary of Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Yakub Aliagan on Monday, said the ministry was not aware of the donation initially.

    ”The State Government wasn’t aware of the distribution of these instructional materials in the first instance.

    ”The appropriate thing to do is to send those materials to the Ministry of Education, which has a statutory duty of vetting learning materials for quality control and then approve such for distribution.

    ”Not doing so was a violation of a basic rule, which is key to strengthening our institutions and keeping standards.

    ”Besides, it is wrong for anyone to emblazon their images or personal logos on instructional materials made with public resources for distribution in public schools.

    ”The said materials were some sort of Constituency Projects, which have been approved and funded by the Federal Government of Nigeria,” he read.

    Aliagan added that Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq had earlier rejected a proposal to emblazone his personal picture on instructional materials for public schools.

    According to him, it is instructive to note that the Kwara State Ministry of Education recently approached the governor to mass-produce instructional materials with his picture emblazoned on them ahead of school resumption and the he rejected the proposal.

    ”He rejected it on the ground that there should be no personalisation of projects executed with public funds.

    ”Flowing from the above, the authorities at the schools were right to have rejected those materials because the Ministry of Education was not aware of such.

    ”And also, because there should be no politicisation of education, whether directly or indirectly, especially at the basic level where the children are very impressionable.

    ”Since the materials had been produced with government funds, we urge the Mandate Office of Senator Saraki to return them to the Ministry of Education after having replaced the covers emblazoned with personal photographs or political identities,” he said.

  • Kwara assembly commence move to takeover Saraki’s house

    The Kwara House of Assembly on Tuesday urged Gov. Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq of the state to declare as void the acquisition, appropriation and conversion of residence of the late Dr Olusola Saraki.

    The property with Survey No KWG927 and LAN/G-2071 is situated on Ilofa Road, GRA, llorin.

    The property which has been in existence for several years is popularly known as ”Ile Arugbo”

    The Assembly made the call after considering the report of its Committee on Land, Housing and Urban Development on the property.

    The report was presented by the chairman of the committee, Mr Felix Awodiji (APC, Ifelodun)

    The Speaker, Mr Danladi Yakubu-Salihu while reading the resolution of the Assembly, said that the property belongs to the state government and should be revoked.

    The resolutions equally called for revocation of the land for development of the state and the use for the purpose it was originally meant.

    The Assembly made a similar call on July 23 to revoke government chalet sold to the former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki in GRA in Ilorin.

  • Police rescue four kidnapped Turkish expatriates in Kwara

    The four Turkish expatriates who were kidnapped by gunmen in Gbale, Edu Local Government Area of Kwara, have been rescued by the police.
    The victims had spent six days with their abductors before a police team secured their release on Friday evening from the hide out of the kidnappers at Gbugbu community in the state.
    Addressing newsmen at the police headquarters in Ilorin, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, said the police had been on the trail of the kidnappers since the incident was reported.
    He explained that a combined team of the IGP Tactical Squad, the anti-robbery team as well as members of the Miyyeti Allah and the vigilance group in the area had intensified their search for the expatriates.
    Egbetokun noted that the team had during the week arrested one of the kidnappers with one AK47 riffle at Gbugbu village.
    He said that within the period, three others, including the contact person who was making efforts to collect the N100million ransom demanded from the company of the expatriates, were also arrested.
    Egbetokun further said after intense pressure, the remaining kidnappers abandoned the expatriates and ran away.
    He said all the four kidnapped expatriates were rescued hale and hearty without paying any ransom.
    The commissioner also assured the residents of the state of the determination of the force to ensure adequate security of lives and property.
    Those rescued were Yasin Colak (33), Senerapal (40), Ergun Yurdakul (35) and Seyit Keklik (25).

  • Kwara APC caucus kicks against Saraki’s nomination as minister

    Some members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under the Kwara State APC Caucus have regarded the nomination of Senator Gbemisola Saraki as minister by President Muhammadu Buhari as indirect restoration of the Saraki dynasty in the state.
    The group said that already, her announcement as a minister-designate had thrown the defeated Saraki dynasty into celebration moods.
    The APC Caucus Chairman and Secretary Yusuf Mohamnmed and Buhari Aliyu added that if they had their way with President Buhari, “we would have preferred another person from the state to replace Senator Gbemisola Saraki in order to save the people of the state the nightmare of going back to the dark days of the Saraki’s reign again.”
    They hailed the president for re-nominating Alhaji Lai Mohammed as minister-designate, adding that “we wish however, like to state that we have received the nomination of Senator Gbemisola Saraki with mixed feelings.
    “We are very apprehensive of the fact that as the saying goes, ‘blood is thicker than water.’ Therefore, we are afraid that the appointment of Senator Gbemisola Saraki as a minister, is likely to bring back the sad memories of the retrogressive political activities of the Saraki
    dynasty, which impacted negatively on the lives of majority of the people of the state.
    “We are of the believe that we have been able to defeat and wean ourselves from the Saraki’s negative political influences and strongholds that have left bitter and sour tastes in the mouths of
    majority of the people of the state during the divinely inspired victory of the people in the last general elections in the state.
    “However, we are now very worried and unhappy that the appointment of Senator Gbemisola Saraki as a minster, would most likely provide easy access and platform, which shall be employed to bring back this era of the misrule and financial rape that were imposed on us in Kwara state, during the past 16 years of political control by the Saraki dynasty which Senator Gbemisola Saraki was also an active participant.”

  • Gunmen kidnap four Turkish expatriates in Kwara

    Gunmen kidnap four Turkish expatriates in Kwara

    Armed bandits have allegedly abducted four Turkish expatriates at a local drinking joint in Gbale village, Edu local government area of Kwara State.
    The incident, it was gathered occurred at about 10pm, on Saturday while the men were having fun at the local joint in the village.
    The names of the abductees are Yasin Colak (33), Senerapal (40), Ergun Yurdakul (35) and Seyit Keklik (25).
    The victims are said to be expatriates working with Instabul concrete limited in the village.
    Spokesperson of the Kwara Police Command Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the abduction of the expatriates.
    He added that Commissioner of Police Kayode Egbetokun had dispatched team under operation Puff Adder to the area to commence immediate rescue alive of the expatriates and arrest of the hoodlums.
    He added that the efforts of the police is beginning to yield positive results but did not confirm if any arrest had been made so far.

  • Kwara gov, Abdulrazaq apologises to pupils over poor condition of school

    Kwara gov, Abdulrazaq apologises to pupils over poor condition of school

    The Governor of Kwara State, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has apologised to pupils of School for Special Needs in Ilorin over the poor condition of the school.
    A statement issued by Media Aide to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye on Saturday in Ilorin, said Abdulrazaq gave the apology when he visited the school.
    The governor who expressed displeasure at the poor facilities at the school said “now that I have seen things for myself, I know the depth of the problem we have in this sector and we will be responsible in allocating scarce resources.
    “We will come back here to ensure that basic standards are met. The truth is that basic needs are not met and it is a shame.
    “As a government, we want to apologise for living in this kind of condition and we will make sure that minimum standards are met,’’ the governor said.
    Abdulrazaq directed the Permanent Secretary, Kwara State Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, Hajia Mariam Garuba to urgently submit a recommendation to the government on what the school needs to give the children a good head start in life.
    He also commended the pupils and teachers of the school for their resilience and commitment.
    Also speaking, Aroyehun Faoziyah, principal of the school said they lacked basic amenities to take care of the children, including modern infrastructure as the classrooms were totally dilapidated.
    She said that the school’s clinic was without essential drugs to treat sick pupils.

  • My predecessor, Abdulfatah left Kwara in a mess – Gov Abdulrazak

    My predecessor, Abdulfatah left Kwara in a mess – Gov Abdulrazak

    Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq on Saturday said his predecessor Abdulfatah Ahmed messed everything up in the state and that he is gradually fixing the mess.
    Abdulrazak spoke during the commissioning of the ultra-modern library complex in Kwara state University (KWASU), Malete, Moro local government area of the state. The library complex was funded by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).
    Represented by his Deputy Kayode Alabi, the governor said: “Everything is messed up in Kwara state, the decay will take years to fix but we are convinced that we will succeed if everybody supports us. We are starting on ground zero.
    “We are faced with criminal breakdown of basic infrastructure across every sector in the state, especially in the education and health sectors.
    “Just last week, we had to pay N250 million to offset two months’ salaries the state government owed workers across the state colleges of education.
    “We also paid an additional N50 million to secure re-accreditation for two of the colleges.
    “We still have a backlog of arrears to pay these teachers. We have promised to steadily offset these backlogs with an appeal to the workers to return to work after many months of industrial action to protest the neglect of the schools by people elected to serve the public.
    “The decay in the infrastructure across our primary and secondary schools is better imagined.
    “The more any patriot sees such a thing the sadder he becomes because it points at a bleak future unless something urgent is done.
    “It was so bad that funds meant for upgrades of facilities at the primary schools were diverted with serious consequences for the state.
    “Our government is determined to raise a generation of children who are able to cope with the education needs of the 21st century.”
    Executive Secretary Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Professor Suleiman Bogoro described the library as the best in the country pledging that the Fund would always support laudable projects.