Court orders forfeiture of vehicles linked to ex-Kwara gov’s aide  

The Kwara State High Court has ordered the final forfeiture of two tractors and two tricycles traced to Kayode Oyin-Zubair, a former aide to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, to the Self-Reliance Economic Advancement Programme (SEAP).

Delivering judgment, Justice Haleema Saleeman dismissed Oyin-Zubair’s application to vacate an earlier interim forfeiture order, ruling that the assets were proceeds of unlawful diversion of public funds.

Oyin-Zubair served as Special Assistant on Community Intervention between 2020 and 2023.

He was accused by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of misappropriating N72 million from a transport empowerment scheme funded by SEAP.

The scheme, meant to procure 100 tricycles and 100 mini-buses for transport unions such as TOAN, NURTW, and RTEAN, was financed with N192 million.

According to the EFCC, Oyin-Zubair diverted part of the repayment funds contributed by beneficiaries to acquire the vehicles in his own name.

The items, valued at N57.4 million, were recovered from a warehouse on Fate Road, Ilorin, following an interim forfeiture order secured in November 2024.

EFCC counsel, Mustapha Kaigama, said the Commission presented compelling evidence tracing the assets to the diverted funds.

Justice Saleeman upheld the EFCC’s case and ordered the permanent handover of the vehicles to SEAP.