The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on October 31, 2016 arrested a self-acclaimed building engineer, Abdullahi Rilwan, for offences bordering on operating a land racketeering syndicate, criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of classified documents, obtaining by false pretence and money laundering.
Operatives of the EFCC had as part of investigation into the $2.1billion arms procurement fraud, visited the Kuje Area Council, Abuja. The visit was in connection with several properties in the area, suspected to be proceeds of money laundering.
In the course of
investigating the ownership of a filling station and a shopping complex
both still under construction located along Pegi Road, in the Kuje Area
Council, operatives gathered that Rilwan was in charge of the
construction work.
Rilwan, who was subsequently engaged, denied ownership of
the station, but confirmed he was the engineer in charge of the
construction work.
He admitted to being the owner of the shopping complex. He
also told operatives that he was the owner of two companies, Kaibo Oil
and Gas and Kaibo Properties, but could not account for the source of
wealth.
A visit to his office, however, revealed that he was involved in several shady and suspicious business transaction deals.
The revelation made EFCC operatives to beam their
searchlight on Rilwan’s business activities. Subsequently, on October
31, a search and arrest warrant was executed at his Kuje residence.
The search
unearthed several implicating documents in his custody, many of which he
used to sell plots of land. Properties recovered from his residence in
Kuje, include letter-head papers in the name of Kuje Area Council
allocating plots of land, an “Irrevocable Power of Attorney” in favour
of Air Commodore Bassy Inyang, a “Right of Occupancy” document granted
to Henryville Farms, Abuja, among other implicating documents.
The filling
station and the complex are currently under investigation, and he would
be charged to court as soon as the investigations are concluded.
Wilson UwujarenHead, Media & Publicity
3rd November, 2016
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