EFCC re-arraigns ex-Gov, Commissioner over alleged ₦5.78bn fraud
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed new 14-count charges against former Kwara State Governor Abdulfattah Ahmed and his administration’s Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Ademola Banu, over an alleged ₦5.78 billion fraud.
The case is currently being heard by Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar at the Kwara State High Court.
The duo was charged with the alleged diversion and misappropriation of public funds intended for various projects and state security.
The fresh re-arraignment of the former governor and his aide follows the EFCC’s withdrawal of the case from the Federal High Court in Ilorin last Wednesday, where they were previously standing trial.
The duo faces charges of alleged diversion and misappropriation of public funds intended for various projects and state security.
Their fresh re-arraignment follows the EFCC’s withdrawal of the case from the Federal High Court in Ilorin last Wednesday, where they were previously on trial.
While the former governor’s name appeared in all 14 counts, Banu’s name was absent from Count 7, which specifically accused Ahmed of failing to complete the assets declaration form provided by the EFCC upon his arrest.
The former governor is alleged to have misappropriated ₦1,610,730,500.00 intended for the security and administration of the state to charter private jets.
The EFCC stated that this action violated Section 22(5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The former governor and his finance commissioner are also accused of conspiring to “steal funds intended to pay salaries of teachers with the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, as well as to provide security and other infrastructural facilities for the people of the state,” among other allegations.
When the case was called, EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) urged the court to accept the amended charges and allow them to be read to the defendants.
Lead counsel for the defendants, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) and Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), did not object to the application. Justice Abdulgafar granted the request, and the defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Subsequently, the defense counsel filed a separate application to request oral motions for the defendants’ bail. They argued that the case had been ongoing since 2019 and that the defendants had previously been granted administrative bail by the commission, which they had never violated. The counsel urged the court to exercise its discretion to grant bail, noting that all the offenses against the defendants were bailable.
Ruling on the applications, Justice Abdulgafar admitted the former governor and the ex-commissioner to bail in the sum of ₦100 million. The case was adjourned until December 4 and 5, 2024, for the commencement of trial.
Proofreading by Uchechi Ojo, Sub-editor at Neptune Prime.
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