How Bukola Saraki Fraudulently Sold Kwara Amusement Park for N100million

Ilorin Amusement Park was sold in the year 2010 by the administration of Dr Bukola Saraki at the rate of N100million.

The company that bought the premises is called Artee Group.

The company was invited by the former Governor to build a private shopping mall and the premises was sold to them for that purpose without the knowledge of  the owners or appropriate government Ministry in charge of the park.

Following conflicting information about the status of the premises, a committee set up by the Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to review sales of government properties from 1999 till date led by Senator Makanjuola Ajadi investigated the premises as part of its committee work and came up with its findings.

In the report submitted to the Kwara State Governor in July 2019, it was established that:

Kwara State Amusement Park was established in the 70’s along Unity Taiwo road, Ilorin.

The park used to be famous for recreational activities, and it also serves as centre for Armed Forces Remembrance Day for fallen heroes.

According to the report, before the place was converted to an Amusement Park in the 70’s, it used to be the Yidi Praying ground for Ilorin community, before the Yidi was relocated to its present location.

Investigation shows that, the Amusement Park premises was owned by Ile Nda family and was donated to Ilorin Community, to be used as Yidi praying ground, when the old Yidi was to be relocated.

The premises was used as Yidi praying ground for some years, until in the 70’s, when the Yidi praying ground was moved to its present location and the premises was converted to Amusement Park.

Before the premises was converted to Amusement Park, Ile Nda family was consulted and the family accepted that the premises be converted to Amusement Park in public interest.

However, in 2010, a company brought in by Dr Bukola Saraki, Artee Group requested for a suitable location for the purpose of building a shopping mall and among the sites visited were flower garden, a site besides metropolitan square and the Amusement park and out of the 3 sites visited, Amusement Park was chosen as the most suitable location for the company’s proposed business.

Kwara State Government,  under the leadership of Dr Bukola Saraki helped the company acquire the land and it was offered to them at the rate of N125million.

On April 14, 2010, the company wrote to government, requesting for reduction in the price of premises to N62million because according to them, global financial crisis had affected their businesses globally. The former governor, partially granted their request and the price was reduced from N125million to N100million. The company paid N100million to government and all documents relating to the premises were processed in their name by the Bureau of lands.

In 2013, Ministry of Environment, under whose custody, the park was domiciled got directive from government to vacate the premises for a new owner and to move out all their belongings. The ministry said it is not involved in any decision to sell the premises to any group or individual, it only got directive from government to move out and it complied.

To shed more light on the ownership of the premises, Senator Ajadi led committee invited concerned citizens who had reportedly taken the state government to court over the premises and one Alh. Saliu Duro Garba came to make some clarifications.

Alh Saliu confirmed that Bukola Saraki led state government was dragged to court over the sale of the premises by concerned citizens.

Alh Salihu Duro explained that, Ile Nda family gave the land to Ilorin community for the purpose of yidi praying ground and that when Yidi was moved, they were pleased when the premises was converted to Amusement park since it was for public good.

However, the family felt enraged when they heard about the purported sales of the premises to private entity and they expressed their opposition to the sale and transfer of the premises, especially when the proposed Shopping Mall maybe used for gambling and other activities against the Islamic principles Ilorin is known for.

He maintained that, they are ready to withdraw the court case instituted against government on condition that the property would remain an amusement park for public use.

It was observed that,  the whole process of selling the Amusement Park didn’t follow due process at all.

Apart from the fact that government has no right to sell a property they do not own, the ministry in charge of the premises prior to the sale was not duly informed and no document could be found regarding the sale.

Also, the basis of reducing the sales value of the premises from N125million to N100million as requested by the company was not genuine and has no bearing on the state.

It was therefore recommended that government should reverse the sale of the premises, as the land doesn’t belong to government.

Government is also advise to invite the concerned group and make an out of court settlement with them.

Since the whole transaction process is shaddy and non-transparent, government should review the whole process, retrieve the property and find alternative site for Artee Group, and if they are not satisfied, government should refund their payment of N100million.

After retrieving the premises, government  should remodel it for its primary purpose of recreation activities and make it more viable.