The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has sealed Sokoto residence of the former Governor of the old Sokoto state, Shehu Kangiwa.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE learned that the property which is currently occupied by the former governor’s children, was being investigated following a tip off that part of it was bought by a top government official in the state.
It was revealed that the officials of the anti-graft agency stormed the house, located along Agaie Road, Sokoto GRA, around noon on Friday and marked the parameters fence of the house with red paint.
A witness said, “They came in numbers in company of well armed policemen and started marking the fence.”
When contacted, one of the sons of the late governor, Ahmad Shehu Kangiwa (Abba) said he was at the Juma’at Mosque when he was informed of the development.
“When I went back home, I discovered that the officials had marked the fence of the house was marked with red paint by EFCC that the house is under investigation.
“We then went to their zonal office where we were told that a top government official in the state used looted money to buy a portion of the house.
“But we told them where they marked was not the sold out portion because that part is still owned by my brothers.
“They, however, asked us to bring any evidence to prove our claim and we are working to retrieve the court file that contained the details of how the house was shared among the heirs of the late governor.
When contacted. the Zonal Head of the Commission in Sokoto, Aliyu Yunusa, declined comment on the matter.
But an official of the anti-graft agency who sought for anonymity told our reporter that there was a portion of the house bought by a top government official in the state.
“It’s alleged that a government official in the state had used public funds to purchase a land in the house.
“And there is new law called ‘Poker” which empowers our agency to seal and investigate any property suspected to be bought with public fund.
“The children of the late Governor came. We clarified it for them and we will release the property to them if they bring evidence that is still their own,” the official said.
It would be recalled that about one year ago, 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE exclusively reported how a portion of the property was sold by the children of the deceased over financial difficulty.
The children alleged that the death benefits of their father was not paid 40 years after his death.
However, Governor Aminu Tambuwal, had in a press conference held at the compound of the house promised to pay the benefit which Abba said they were still waiting for up to this moment.
