N11.9bn Stolen from Kwara Between 2011 and 2019, Forensic Audit Reveals

Date: 2022-09-02

A forensic audit company hired by the Kwara State Government yesterday disclosed that about N11.9 billion of public funds were allegedly carted away from the treasury of the state between 2011 and 2019 without any project or programme to show for it.

Also, the forensic audit revealed that N2 billion cash withdrawals were not tied to any project or official expenditure were made within eight days in February 2019, barely one month to the general election.

But a former governor of the state, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed on whose tenure the funds were allegedly withdrawn has described the allegations as preposterous, naïve, unspecific and generally unfounded.

Ahmed in a statement issued yesterday signed by his former Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba said, “Every expenditure during the period under review was properly appropriated and followed due process. If there were infractions as alleged, there are laid down procedures for correction.

“Since we left office more than three years ago, the accounts have been properly audited by various auditing agencies and had been certified. Any query now, six months to election, on the legality or otherwise of the expenditure, are after thought and politically motivated.”

However, submitting the report to the state governor, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq in Ilorin yesterday, a Partner at SSAC and Professionals, Mr. Anthony Inumoh said, “the report is in two volumes covering internally generated revenue; capital receipts; internal and external loans; recurrent/overhead expenditure; personnel cost (salaries and wages); capital expenditure; assets disposed; Kwara State Internal Revenue Service; Infrastructural Fund Kwara (IFK); Harmony Holdings Limited; amongst others.”

Other members of the audit firm were Tijani Dako and Bamidele Sobiye.

According to him, “A few highlights of our findings may be necessary for the record. Our forensic audit revealed a colossal pilfering of N11, 981,268,709 which we recommended should be recovered to the public coffers.”

Inumoh stated that, “Similarly, we recommended to the state government to prosecute certain officers and companies in addition to claiming exemplary damages on transactions totaling N6,023,358,444, amongst other key findings.

“This is especially so in the cases of firms that we observed were paid huge public funds without any evidence of work done on record.”
He added, “In one instance, records show that a firm that was incorporated at the Corporate Affairs Commission on 14th June, 2016, was paid by the state government for a contract it purportedly executed for the state in April of the same year. It became apparent that this was a preconceived attempt to defraud the state.

“There was an instance of public officer getting paid at two different places for years, which is a clear breach of the law.
“Other infractions arising as a result of obvious conflict of interest and violation of due process were also spotlighted for the government to draw up new policy instruments to prevent such in the future.”

Speaking further, he said: “There was also a cash withdrawal within eight days of N2.06 billion in February 2019, which was of interest to the audit.

“However, no documentation was made available to validate the purpose for which the money was withdrawn. There were also several other cash withdrawals within the state over the period running into billions of naira which we could not validate.

“These and others have been recommended to be referred to an Administrative Panel of Enquiry.
“Furthermore, the audit revealed that loans were obtained by the Kwara State Government within the period under review.
“The elements of these loans could not be validated. Above all, the bank accounts to which these loans were disbursed to and what the loans were used for could not be established or validated.”

He therefore suggested to the government to prosecute some individuals and firms indicted in the two volume report, while other issues should be referred to administrative panel of inquiry for some individuals to explain their roles in the many infractions.

Receiving the report, the state governor, AbdulRazaq said the revelations were truly disturbing but hardly surprising, given the patterns of events in those years.

He said, “We thank you for the robust work. It confirms what we have been saying all along.

“We also saw that it has taken a bit of time and I know that there were certain deliberate efforts to obstruct your work.

“That was why it has taken some time because you have made certain complaints about that and we tried to push those that were supposed to open the doors to make the doors easy for you.”

The governor added, “Your report, like others, will help us to steadily put the state in the right direction to deepen transparency and accountability. We will go through the report fully and look into your recommendations.

“With few things said, it is mind-boggling, especially withdrawing cash of over N2 billion a month to the election and all sorts of infractions that took place. Certainly, we shall progress from here and do the needful.”

Source

 


Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Kwara State Pension Board     Ayinde Oyepitan     AGM Professional Services     Tsado Manman     Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory     Ishaq Abdulkarim     Stephen Fasakin     Ethical College     Suraj Tunji Oyewale     Photo News     Yoonus Lawal     Saka Saadu     Ganmo Electricity Sub-Station     Azeez Salawu     Abdul-Rahoof Bello     Young Progressives Party     Salihu Ajibola Ajia     08001000100     Imam Gambari     Orire     Akume     Yusuf A. Usman     KWASIEC     Sherif Sagaya     Abdulbaqi Jimoh     General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport     Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu     Sobi Specialist Hospital     Adijat Adebiyi     Toyin Olayinka Tejidini     Sa\'adu Salau     Gaa Olobi     Shero     Zulkifli Ibraheem     Olayinka Jelili Yusuf     Vasolar Consortium     Alabi Olayemi Abdulrazak     S.O. Opowoye     Neo Mundo Ltd     Hassan Oyeleke     Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye     Iyabo Adewuyi     Ganmo     Pacify Labs     Jimba Babatunde     Bukola Ajikobi     Aliyu U. Tilde     Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency     Abubakar Aliagan     N-Power     Yusuf Lawal     Sabi     Seni Saraki     Na\'Allah     ENetSuD     Aliyu Alhassan     Mohammed Ghali Alaaya     IESA     Emmanuel Olatunji Adesoye     Akande Idowu Ayoola Muhammed     Taofeek Sanusi     Mopelola Abdulmaliq-Bashir     Kazeem Oladepo     Moses Rahman Popoola     Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf     Folashade Omoniyi     Saka Balikis Kehinde     Toyin Abdullahi     Aliyu Salihu     Ekweremadu     Goodluck Jonathan     Arinola Lawal     Yakubu Shaaba     Deji Ajani     Yakub Lai Gobir     George Funsho Adebayo     Alabere    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Split Diamond Interchange     Marafan Shonga     Osuwa     Hassan Saliu     Idiagbon     Aliyu Salihu     Ramadan     Rotimi Atere     Henry Makinwa     Salihu Alhaji Musa     Mustapha Akanbi     Yusuf Mubarak     Shagari     Akeem Olatunji     Bayo Ajia     Ayekale     Kpotum Mohammed Baba     Women For Change And Development Initiative     Tafida Of Ilorin     Arandun     Lateef Ademola Olatunji     Abdulrahman Abdulrazak     Rashidi Yekini     Kolo     Chief Imam Of Ilorin     Isiaka Oniwa     Chikanda     Bashir Adigun     Quran     Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants Ltd     Sheriff Shagaya     Hikmah AbdulKareem     Adebara     Facemasks     Kola Bukoye     Kayode Yusuf     Royal FM     Presidential Election     Opobiyi     State Bureau Of Internal Revenue     Aliyu U. Tilde     Bureau Of Lands     Ahmed Idris Mohammed     Eleja     COVID     Ndama Al-hassan     Olupako     Mahmud Durosinlohun Atiku     Oko-Erin     Afonja     Abubakar Kawu Baraje     Gamji Members Association     KWTV     Salmon Babatunde Salmon     Abdulganiyu Salahudeen     Saidu Yaro Musa     Zara Umar     Bola Shagaya     Segun Olawoyin     Wahab Egbewole     Moronfoye     Kwara NIPR     Yusuf Amuda Abubakar     Femi Oladiji     Atiku Abubakar     Yashikira     Haleeman Salman     Olayinka Are     Babs Iwarere     NAWOJ     ASMAU PLAZA     Ballah     College Of Education     Jumoke Gafar     Umar Adelodun     Oniwasi Agbaye     Abdulmumini AbdulRazaq