The Kebbi State Government has set up a committee to recover the money stolen from the orphans account.
A sum of N2.1bn had disbursed to 1,849 orphans in the state by the World Muslim League through bank transfer to cater for their education and upkeep.
While briefing journalists in Birnin Kebbi, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Aliyu, said that some guardians entrusted with the money engaged in fraudulent withdrawals.
He said Governor Nasir Idris had directed the immediate recovery of the money in full and that it should be returned to the orphans.
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He said, “We contacted the banks that disbursed the funds but they informed us that the fraudulent acts were perpetrated using Point of Sale (POS) terminals not the conventional banking channels.
“Any bank discovered to be involved in the removal of the orphans’ money, government will formally write a letter of complaint to the headquarters of such bank for appropriate action,” he said.
He added that government would not fold its arms to allow some guardians of the orphans to cheat them.
“Kebbi Government is immensely appreciative to the World Muslim League for its magnanimity and for disbursing such colossal amount of money to orphans in the state.
“The Nigeria’s Regional Office of the League in Kaduna has been notified about what is happening in Kebbi, and the office has pledged full cooperation to the funds’ recovery efforts.
The committee is headed by the Commissioner for Religious Affairs and other commissioners, two special advisers and two permanent secretaries.
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