The reasons behind the sealing of former Kano State Governor, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s property by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has nothing to do with his stewardship as a governor, one of his aides said.
OBSERVERS TIMES reported earlier that a building, on Miller road belonging to the former governor was sealed on Thursday by the anti-graft body and marked under investigation.
The aide of the former governor who wants to remain anonymous as he was not authorised to speak, told Solacebase that the sealing of the said property has to do with the purchase of the building that was initially owned by former National Security Adviser, Alhaji Ismaila Gwarzo.
‘’The building was acquired by Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso in 2019 through a middle man, Baban Gandu who was an aide to Ismaila Gwazo, that the family are presently accusing of selling the properties of the former National Security Adviser due to his health situation as he is battling with not recollecting anything discussed with him,’’ said the aide.
‘’However, the family of the former national security adviser reported the matter to the EFCC, commenced an investigation and started sealing most of the property belonging to the former national security adviser.’’
The aide noted that when Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso bought the property, the money was paid directly to the bank account of the owner of the property as the transaction was conducted by his Lawyer.
He noted that Kwankwaso later donated the property to the Kwankwasiyya Development Foundation.
Confirming the development to Observers Times News, Lawyer to Alhaji Ismaila Gwarzo, Barrister Ishyaku Haliru, said he was just released on bail by the EFCC over the matter.
Haliru noted that he has been serving as Alhaji Ismaila Gwarzo’s lawyer for years and was given the power of attorney to sell the properties by the owner as well as buying new properties for him.
‘’ Even the Kwankwaso’s property in contention initially belong to Alhaji Gwarzo who authorised us as his lawyer to sell the property. The transaction was concluded with Kwankwaso’s lawyer who represented him and the money was paid to the bank account of Alhaji Gwarzo directly, ‘’Barr. Ishyaku Haliru said.
‘’However, the family initially complained to the Directorate of State Services (DSS) and I was invited before taking the issue to the EFCC also.’’
‘’Although they said Alhaji Ismaila Gwarzo is the complainant at the EFCC, I am sure that is not the case as we sold properties for him in 2016, 2017 even in 2019. Some of the properties are not developed as some were in Lagos and Abuja.’’
However, a source at the Kano Zonal office of the EFCC told Solacebase that the investigation is from Abuja as they are not in the picture of the case.
The spokesman of the commission, Wilson Uwujare was called severally but his phone line was not going through.