The surge in the activities of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since the Buhari administration took over is clear for all Nigerians to see. And for more and more prominent Nigerians, it cannot be more of a reality as they find themselves in the net of the Commission based on various charges.
For Abdullahi Rilwan, a self-acclaimed building engineer, his crime is failing to explain the source of his wealth to the EFCC. In addition to arresting Rilwan, the EFCC seized a shopping complex and a filling station from him due to his ‘inexplicable wealth’.
Justifying their actions, the EFCC, through its spokesperson, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, said Rilwan was also suspected of operating a land racketeering syndicate, criminal conspiracy, unlawful possession of classified documents, obtaining by false pretence and money laundering.
According to EFCC, RIlwan initially fell under their searchlight during the $2.1 billion arms procurement fraud case during which a filling station and a shopping complex both still under construction located along Pegi Road, in the Kuje Area Council were observed as Rilwan’s properties.
Later, his office was searched where it was “revealed that he was involved in several shady and suspicious business transaction deals” leading to another search this time on his residence where the Commission claimed once again that “several implicating documents [were] 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.”
Punch reports that EFCC claims investigations are still ongoing and RIlwan will be charged to court as soon as they are completed.
