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.
Aasiyat Bello Oyedepo Read With Me Yusuf Arowosaye Oniyangi Kunle Sulaiman Freshvine Nigeria Limited Elelu Olatunji Moronfoye Split Diamond Interchange Olatunji Bamgbola JUSUN KWASIEC Ayo Salami Yusuf Abdulraheem Garment Factory Jumoke Monsura Gafar Omupo Reuben Paraje Hassan Saliu A.G.F Abdulrasaq Ayinke Saka Royal FM Tafida Of Ilorin Marafan Shonga Illyasu Abdullahi Raymond Olaitan Yekini Adio Lanre Badmus Geri-Alimi Split Diamond Interchange Pacify Labs Siraj Oyewale Government High School (GHS), Adeta Ajibola Ademola Julius Bayer AG SSA Youth Engagement Naira Redesign Laduba Moremi High School NFAI Mujtabah Bature ASUU Kamoru Kadiri David Oyerinola Adedunmoye Ayotunde Emmanuel Alao Zaratu Umar Mahee Abdulkadir Sadiq Buhari Yahaya Seriki Gambari Dogara Na\'Allah Salihu Ajia Nagode Kayode Laro Olaosebikan Ijagbo Jimoh Lambe Abdulkareem Yahya Mohammed Hassan Taiye Salam Abdullahi G. Mohammad Joseph Offorjama Tayo Alao Ajeigbe George Innih Ahmed Bayero Baba-Isale Neuropsychiatric Hospital Kannike Sarah Jubril Galland Marcias Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission Mutawali Of Ilorin Ile Arugbo Mohammed Ghali Alaaya Ishak Mohammed Sabi Unilorin Elese Of Igbaja Saka Balikis Kehinde Shonga Farm Project

