The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has detained the Accountant General of Kwara State, Sulaiman Ishola and the state’s  Commissioner of Finance, Nurudeen Banu over investigations into alleged slush funds for 2019 elections.

Reports say the duo are being held at the Ilorin Zonal Head Office of the anti-graft agency to explain how they utilized the over ₦1 billion they allegedly received from a commercial bank a few days to the polls.

The Kwara Coalition for Good Governance and Accountability (KWARA-CGGA) had approached the EFCC to probe the over ₦1billion loan the state government secured from a bank a few days before the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

The Secretary General of the group, Hassan Omoiya said it had intelligence that the state government obtained the loan on February 13 from a first generation bank, using the remittance of Kwara State VAT allocation due in February and March 2019 as collateral.

“We urge the EFCC and indeed the Federal Ministry of Finance to determine the appropriateness of utilization of credit facility of ₦1 billion by Kwara State Government at the twilight of general election.

“The status of VAT Account as collateral for the credit facility in the absence of prior approval and authorization from Debt Management Office and Federal Ministry of Finance in tandem with extant laws and regulation on granting of loan to State Governments.

“It is our expectation that your investigation will extend to individuals and corporate institutions that participated in the unwholesome act with a view of prosecuting the affected individuals and institutions with attendant cost and penalty,” the group said.