Former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his ex-Commissioner of Finance, Ademola Banu, have been re-arraigned on 14 new charges related to an alleged fraud amounting to N5.78 billion. This development took place on Monday in the Kwara State High Court, under the supervision of Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has leveled these charges against the two officials, accusing them of diverting public funds intended for various state projects and security measures. This new arraignment comes after the case was transferred from the Federal High Court in Ilorin, following the reassignment of the former presiding judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike.
Ahmed and Banu’s initial arraignment occurred on April 29, 2024, where they faced a 12-count charge concerning the mismanagement of public funds, to which they had pleaded not guilty. With the change in judiciary personnel, the trial will now commence anew. In the latest set of charges, Ahmed’s name appears in all counts, except for count seven, which specifically accuses him of failing to declare his assets.
Among the serious allegations, Ahmed is charged with misusing N1.6 billion designated for state security to hire private jets. Additionally, it is alleged that both Ahmed and Banu conspired to misappropriate funds intended for teachers’ salaries and critical infrastructure projects.
The first charge outlines that, while serving as the governor, Ahmed, along with Banu, illegally expended N1 billion on civil servant salaries on January 14, 2015. This amount was reportedly part of the funds earmarked for the execution of the state’s action plan for that year.
On Monday, EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, presented the detailed 14-count charge, which was met with no objections from the defense attorneys, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, and Gboyega Oyewole, SAN. The defendants maintained their not guilty pleas, and the court has set their bail at N100 million each, with two sureties required for each. The trial is scheduled to resume on December 4 and 5, 2024.
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