Former Aide to Kwara Governor, Oyin-Zubair, Loses N57m Assets to EFCC Over Fraud, Diversion

By Bamidele Aremu

A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has convicted a former aide to the Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, Kayode Oyin-Zubair for fraud and asset diversion.

Justice Haleema Saleeman, while delivering her judgment on Thursday, ordered the forfeiture of two tractors and two tricycles linked to the Oyin-Zubair’s crime stating that the properties were proceeds of unlawful activity.

She dismissed Oyin-Zubair’s application to overturn an earlier interim forfeiture order, siding with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which had prosecuted the case.

The EFCC, through its Ilorin Zonal Directorate, launched investigations after receiving reports of misappropriated funds tied to a transport empowerment initiative.

 Oyin-Zubair, who served as Special Assistant on Community Intervention to the governor, allegedly sought N192 million from the Self Reliance Economic Advancement Programme (SEAP) to procure 100 tricycles and 100 mini-buses for transport unions across the state.

However, EFCC findings revealed that N72 million in repayments collected from beneficiaries was diverted and used to acquire the tractors and tricycles now forfeited. The commission traced the assets to a warehouse located along Fate Road in Ilorin.

During the proceedings, EFCC counsel Mustapha Kaigama presented documented evidence and witness testimony linking the diverted funds directly to the properties. Despite resistance from the defence team, the court ruled in favour of the anti-graft agency and granted final forfeiture of the N57.4 million worth of items to SEAP.