From Abdul Salaudeen Ilorin
Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Directorate has secured the final forfeiture of two tractors and two tricycles from a former Special Assistant on Community Intervention to the Kwara State governor, Kayode Oyin-Zubair.
Justice Haleema Saleeman of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, delivered the ruling last Thursday in Ilorin, the state capital.
She dismissed Oyin-Zubair’s application to set aside the interim forfeiture order, affirming that the items were proceeds of unlawful activity.
The EFCC had recovered the items from a warehouse along Fate Road in Ilorin after investigations linked them to diverted public funds meant for a transport empowerment scheme.
Oyin-Zubair was alleged to have sought N192 million in funding from the Self Reliance Economic Advancement Programme, SEAP, to purchase 100 tricycles and 100 mini-buses for various transport unions in Kwara State.
However, findings showed that N72 million in repayments from beneficiaries was diverted and used to purchase the tractors and tricycles in Oyin-Zubair’s name.
Despite objections from his legal team, the EFCC, represented by Mustapha Kaigama, presented documents and testimony showing clear links between the misappropriated funds and the seized assets.
The judge granted final forfeiture of the properties to SEAP, bringing a conclusive end to the case.
The total value of the forfeited items was estimated at N57.4 million.
