Kwara Govt Exonerates Toyin Saraki from Lease of Amusement Park
The Kwara State Government has cleared Mrs Toyin Saraki, wife of the former state governor, Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki, of any involvement in the lease of the Ilorin Amusement Park to the Artee Group, operators of Park n Shop and Spar Supermarket brands in Nigeria. The clarification follows a reported law suit by an Ilorin-based group linking the former first lady to the lease of the park.
Making the clarification in a statement issued in Ilorin, the state capital, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Prince Tunji Moronfoye, dismissed the group’s claim as politically-motivated disinformation, stressing that neither Mrs Saraki nor anyone associated with her was involved in the lease of the park. Moronfoye, who emphasised that Mrs Saraki only renovated the park in 2004 as a philanthropic gesture, further described the listing of Senator Saraki’s wife as a defendant in an alleged suit as a futile campaign orchestrated by the opposition and targeted at the Saraki family.
Giving a background to the transaction, the commissioner said the park was leased to Artee Group in 2010 when the company agreed to include Kwara State in its plans to expand to six locations in Nigeria following intense lobby by the state government. According to Moronfoye, Artee Group’s retail formats include department store chain Park n Shop and Dutch Supermarket Chain Spar. As at the end of 2012, according to Moronfoye, Artee Group had signed firm agreement with retail anchor tenants for the proposed mall, including Mr. Price, Spar, Park n Shop, KFC and BhS.
“In January 2010, Artee Group, promoters of the Spar retail brand in Nigeria and the Park & Shop retail brand acceded to request of the State Government and requested for a suitable location within the Ilorin Metropolis for the sole purpose of developing a modern shopping mall and entertainment arcade. Representatives of the State and those of Artee Group visited various sites in the Ilorin metropolis to determine the suitable place for the mall. The sites visited include, the Flower Garden, a site near the metropolitan square, the Amusement park (along Wahab Folawiyo road, Ilorin), which hitherto was being used as a relaxation/drinking pub, as well as a zoo accommodating few animals.
“After the visits, representatives of Artee Group chose the Amusement park as best suited for the project. Subsequently, the company made a financial offer on the property which the state government accepted on April 14, 2010. At no point in the transaction culminating in the lease of the Amusement Park to Artee Group did Mrs Saraki or anyone related or linked to her participate directly or indirectly.”
Related
Ancestral Land: Ilorin Elders Raise Fresh Posers for Kwara Govt
Saraki Denies Wife's Involvement in Sale of Ilorin Amusement Park
Alleged Sale of Ancestral Lands: Ilorin Senior Citizens Drag KWSG to Court
Ancestral Land: Only court can exonerate your wife, Ilorin elders reply Saraki
Group Urges Peace in Saraki, Elders' Land Dispute
Groups, NLC Chief Urge Caution over Kwara Land, Offa-Erin-Ile Crises
Alleged Sale of Ancestral Lands: Ilorin Senior Citizens Drag KWSG to Court
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Madawaki Of Ilorin Share Raheem Adaramaja Khairat Gwadabe Dan Masanin Mumini Ishola Hanafi State Bureau Of Internal Revenue Pacify Labs EFCC David Oyedepo Moremi High School Alabi Lawal Bayo Mohammed Onimode Abdulkareem Alabi Hassan Saliu Ajayi Okasanmi ER-KANG Mining Nigeria Company Limited Lanre Olosunde Sheikh Alimi Okeose Christian Cementary Razak Atunwa Sidikat Alaya Christian Association Of Nigeria Rex Olawoye Prince Bola Ajibola Arinola Lawal Kwara Senate Presidency Laboratory-to-Product Tayo Awodiji Yusuf Amuda Gobir Ilesha-Baruba Bibire Ajape John Kehinde Salako Abdulazeez Uthman Olayinka Oladapo Jogunola Bankole Omishore KWTV Ibrahim Kayode Adeyemi ITEM 7 Owo Arugbo Elerinjare-Ibobo Saliu Tunde Bello Saka Isau Shao Aisha Abodunrin Ibrahim Olomu Azeez Bello Chartered Institute Of Personnel Management Of Nigeria Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye S.O. Opowoye Saka Balikis Kehinde Salman Jawondo Oluranti Idowu Bello Abubakar Abraysports FC Haliru Yahaya Kale Ayo Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita Ghali Muhammed Sanusi Abubakar Eleja Taiwo Banu Ahmad Ali Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh Oyun Unilorin Mumeen Lah Aliyu Sabi Bahago Students Union Government Pakata Theophilus Oyebiyi Turaki Omar Gambari Jalala Abdul Jimoh Mohammed Durosinlohun Atiku

