EFCC re-arraigns ex-Kwara gov, Ahmed, over alleged N5.78bn fraud

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed fresh 14-count charges against a former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfattah Ahmed, and the Commissioner of Finance under his administration, Mr Ademola Banu, over an alleged N5.78 billion fraud.

The case is before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court.

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The duo were charged with alleged diversion and misappropriation of public funds meant for the execution of some projects and security of the state.

The fresh re-arraignment of the former governor and his aide followed the withdrawal of the case last Wednesday from the Federal High Court, Ilorin where they were formerly standing trial by the EFCC.

This was sequel to the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court, Ilorin to another division.

Abdulfatah and Banu were first arraigned on a 12-count charge of mismanagement of public funds before Justice Anyadike on April 29, 2024, to which they pleaded not guilty.

While the name of the ex-governor featured in all the 14 counts, Banu’s name did not appear in Count 7 where only Ahmed was accused of failure to fill assets declaration form offered him by the EFCC upon his arrest.

The former Governor was alleged of spending a sum of N1,610,730,500.00 meant for the security and administration of the state to charter private jets.

The EFCC said the action contravened Section 22(5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.

The former governor and his finance commissioner were also alleged to have conspired to “steal money that was meant to pay salaries of teachers working with Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, meant to provide security and other infrastructural facilities for the people of the State” among others.

When the case was called, counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), urged the court to accept the amended charges and allow it to be read to the defendants.

Responding, the lead counsel for the first and second defendants, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) and Gboyega Oyewole (SAN) did not object to the application.

Justice Abdulgafar granted the application but the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Thereafter, the defence counsel, through a separate application on behalf of their clients, sought the leave of the court to move oral applications for the bail of the defendants.

They pleaded with the court to allow the bail formerly granted to their clients to continue arguing that the case had started since 2019 and the defendants were granted administrative bail by the commission, which they had never jumped.

They urged the court to exercise its discretion to admit the first and second defendants to bail as all the offences levelled against them were bailable.

Ruling on the applications, Justice Abdulgafar admitted the former governor and the ex-commissioner to bail in the sum of N100 million.

The case was adjourned till December 4 and 5, 2024, for commencement of trial.