The Kebbi State Government has established a committee tasked with recovering money fraudulently withdrawn from the individual accounts of orphans, following the disbursement of N2.1 billion by the World Muslim League.
This fund, allocated to support 1,849 orphans in the state, was distributed via bank transfers for their upbringing.
Recent reports indicate that some guardians managing these funds have engaged in fraudulent activities, shortchanging the vulnerable children in their care.
In a briefing in Birnin Kebbi on Friday, Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Muhammad Sani-Aliyu, conveyed Governor Nasir Idris’s directive for the immediate recovery of the misappropriated funds and their return to the rightful beneficiaries.
“The governor has a deep compassion for orphans and is committed to rectifying this situation,” Sani-Aliyu stated, emphasizing the importance of a thorough investigation.
While reaching out to the banks involved, officials learned that the fraudulent activities occurred via Point of Sale (POS) terminals rather than traditional banking channels. Sani-Aliyu cautioned that any bank found complicit in these transactions would receive a formal complaint from the state government for appropriate action.
The commissioner pledged that the current administration would not tolerate any misconduct by guardians exploiting orphans. The Recovery Committee, which he leads, includes two additional commissioners, two special advisers, and two permanent secretaries, all dedicated to ensuring justice for the affected orphans.
