Kwara: Ministry of Justice prosecutes over 200 criminal cases in five months
By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin
The Kwara State Ministry of Justice has prosecuted more than 200 criminal cases, including homicides and kidnappings, between May and October 2024, according to the State’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Ibrahim Sulyman.
Sulyman, represented by Solicitor General Musa Idris, made the announcement during the second inter-ministerial press briefing held at the Ministry of Finance in Ilorin on Tuesday. He also disclosed that legal advice was provided on preliminary investigations into about 262 cases within the same period.
In addition to criminal prosecutions, the Ministry of Justice has vetted over 88 government contract agreements and drafted four bills currently before the Kwara State House of Assembly.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner for Energy, Engineer Abdulazeez Kola, highlighted the ministry’s achievements in electrification, stating that 12 communities have been connected to the state’s power grid since May.
On water resources, Commissioner Usman Lade announced that the ministry, in collaboration with the Rural Water Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) and the State Water Corporation, has committed N300 million to ensure the supply of potable water across Kwara. The state is also in discussions with the African Development Bank (AfDB) for a 30-year water supply plan and is exploring sustainable irrigation power projects.
Further highlighting the state’s efforts to attract investment, the Commissioner for Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Afeez Alabi, revealed that companies from Germany, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Sweden have expressed interest in Kwara’s solid minerals sector.
Alabi noted that the state has abundant natural resources and is on the verge of becoming a major investment destination.
“We are in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Solid Mineral Resources to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision for boosting the solid minerals sector,” said Alabi.
He also mentioned that 30 licensed solid mineral operators are currently being engaged, and five special purpose vehicles (SPVs) have been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) to attract investments.
Alabi further raised concerns about illegal mining in the state, where some individuals falsely pose as government agents to siphon resources. Investigations into these activities are ongoing in collaboration with security agencies.
“We are working tirelessly to curb illegal mining operations and ensure that revenues are properly channeled to the state,” he added.
