• Land valued at N3.4bn as at 2011
Findings have shown how former Kwara State Governor, Dr Bukola Saraki, sold the old Ilorin Eid praying ground along Unity Road at a giveaway price of N100,520,000 in 2010.
As at 2011, the same land was valued at the huge amount of N3.4 billion.
The land which many regard as a communal symbol being the old Ilorin Eid praying ground before it was agreed to be converted to Amusement Park for overriding public interest was sold to a private hand, Artee Group.
Some Ilorin elders had dragged Saraki’s government to court in 2013 over this action which they considered high-handed and offensive to communal sensibilities.
They also accused the former First Lady, Toyin Saraki, of using her influence to bring Artee Group to Kwara State.
Findings also show that the Saraki-led government did not carry the Ministry of Environment which supervises the Amusement Park along in its ridiculous sale of the land.
The previous government just barked down orders to the ministry to vacate the land for Artee Group.
Wide condemnations had trailed the action of Bukola Saraki who was accused of selling collective patrimonies. The old Eid praying ground houses the statue of the unknown soldier where the Armed Forces Remembrance Day usually took place to honour fallen heroes in Kwara State.
Further investigations revealed that the land was owned by the Magajinda family which agreed to convert it to Amusement Park for overriding public interest after the relocation of eid prayers to a more expansive land in Irewolede.
Meanwhile, the High Court, Ilorin, has restrained the Kwara State Government and Artee Group from taking possession of the old Ilorin Eid praying ground pending the determination of the case.
This restraining order was handed by Justice Nureni Kuranga who barred both parties from using the land until the suit is finally heard.
Artee Group had taken the present day Kwara State Government to court over the old Eid praying ground land sold to them by former Governor Bukola Saraki.
With the restraining order, Kwara State Government and Artee Group cannot have anything to do with the old Eid praying ground until the suit is determined by the court.