Kwara Governor invites EFCC to probe Kwara LG funds

The Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has invited the anti-graft agency EFCC to conduct an independent probe into funds so far received and disbursed to the 16 Local Government Areas between May 2019 and now.

Similarly, the Governor says a panel of inquiry comprising members from various backgrounds will be set up to look into the Local Governments’ funds.

The Governor’s spokesman, Rafiu Ajakaye said this in statement issued in Ilorin on Tuesday.

“For the sake of accountability and transparency, the Governor is hereby calling in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to conduct urgent probe into funds so far received as allocations and spent by the 16 local government between May 29 and now,” the statement reads.

It also revealed that the Governor would be setting up a Panel of inquiry to look into the same issues while members of the panel and its terms of reference would be announced soon.

“This probe is borne out of the fact that this administration has not touched a kobo of money belonging to the local governments. It has nothing to hide. But for abundance of caution, the Governor will be tasking not just the EFCC but also a panel of inquiry with members drawn from various backgrounds to investigate the LG funds, how they have been spent, and expose any mismanagement or diversion of the funds (if any),” the statement said.

”This call becomes necessary in view of the outrageous claims by some persons that money to the tune of N300m was diverted monthly from local government accounts and the present administration feels this deserves to be probed and laid to rest because governance is about public trust.

”The Governor appealed to the Hosue of Assembly which comprises the elected representatives of the people with oversight powers, to hold a public hearing on the said matter.

“Governor AbdulRaman restates that he would not be found mismanaging or siphoning public funds. He maintains his stand, which dated back to his days in the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), that the local governments should be allowed to manage their own funds with minimal or no supervision by the State as the law may allow. He insists that any official found to have diverted or mismanaged public funds under him would be made to account for same as prescribed under the law,” the statement declared.