A source within the anti-graft agency, who requested anonymity, disclosed, "The commission invited Kwakwanso over the alleged N2.5bn Kano pension funds. We have grilled Kwakwanso over the matter, and he has provided some details to interrogators." Another source confirmed, "Former Kano governor Kwakwanso has been invited by the commission. He has been grilled, and we’re continuing with our investigation."

When approached for comments, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale declined to make any statements regarding the ongoing investigation.

In March 2023, the Abuja Zonal Command of the EFCC handed over documents of properties and 324 houses recovered for the Kano State pensioners. This handover was based on a final forfeiture order granted by Justice I.E. Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja. The forfeiture followed successful EFCC investigations into an N4.1 billion Pension Trust Fund, contributed by the pensioners for housing, which was misappropriated by two successive administrations in Kano State.

According to Oyewale, "The commission investigated a petition by Concerned Kano State Workers and Pensioners of alleged misappropriation of pension funds in the state. Findings by the EFCC showed that the state government entered into a tripartite agreement with the Kano State Pension Trust Fund to build housing estates for an aggregate sum of N41bn, out of which the Pension Trust Fund was to contribute N4.1bn."

He further explained that the pensioners' contributions were used to build houses in three estates located in Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmud Adam Bandirawo city, Sheikh Nasiru Kabara (Amana) city, and Sheikh Khalifa Ishaq Rabiu city, all in Kano State. However, these houses were fraudulently sold to associates of the two former governors, leaving the pension trustees with inadequate and incomplete housing.

"The EFCC stepped in and, upon completing the investigation, filed for and obtained a final forfeiture order of the 324 properties to the Kano State Pension Fund Trustees," Oyewale said. On March 18, 2024, the Abuja Zonal Commander of the EFCC, Assistant Commander Adeniyi Adebayo, handed over the documents of the 324 properties worth N4.1bn to the pensioners, assuring them that the EFCC would continue its efforts to eliminate fraudulent practices.

Representatives of the Kano State Pension Board, Alhaji Hassan Muhammed Aminu, Kubra Ahmad Bichi, and Salisu Yakubu Abubakar, received the documents on behalf of the workers and pensioners, expressing their gratitude to the EFCC for assisting in recovering their houses.

The investigation into Kwankwaso comes amid political tensions between the ruling New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), led by Kwankwaso, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), led by the immediate past governor, Abdullahi Ganduje. Last week, the state Assembly, loyal to Kwankwaso’s political godson and current governor, Abba Yusuf, reversed the controversial splitting of the Kano emirate into five, a move implemented by Ganduje in 2020.