Court orders forfeiture of tractors, tricycles from ex-Kwara gov’s aide

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin Zonal Directorate, has secured the final forfeiture of two tractors and two tricycles recovered from Kayode Oyin-Zubair, a former aide to the Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

Justice Haleema Saleeman of the Kwara State High Court dismissed Oyin-Zubair’s application to vacate an earlier interim forfeiture order, ruling that it lacked merit. The court upheld the EFCC’s argument that the assets, valued at N57.4 million, were proceeds from the unlawful diversion of funds.

The forfeited items have been awarded to the Self-Reliance Economic Advancement Programme (SEAP), the complainant in the case.

Oyin-Zubair, who served as Special Assistant on Community Intervention to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq between 2020 and 2023, was accused of diverting funds from a transport empowerment scheme facilitated by SEAP.

According to the EFCC, Oyin-Zubair had approached SEAP to finance 100 tricycles and 100 mini-buses for members of the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN), the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), and the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN). SEAP reportedly disbursed N192 million for the initiative.

However, repayment funds totaling N72 million, contributed by beneficiaries, were allegedly diverted and used to purchase the tractors and tricycles in Oyin-Zubair’s name.

The EFCC recovered the items from a warehouse along Fate Road, Ilorin, and had secured an interim forfeiture order in November 2024.

EFCC counsel, Mustapha Kaigama, stated that evidence presented in court successfully traced the assets to illicitly acquired funds.

Justice Saleeman ruled that the EFCC had proven its case and ordered the permanent forfeiture of the assets to SEAP.

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