Amid rising concerns about public corruption, a major legal case has come to light, focusing on allegations against prominent government official.
The Kwara state Ex-governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his former Commissioner of Finance, Ademola Banu, were re-arraigned on Monday.
Alleged Fraud Charges
They face 14 new charges of alleged fraud involving ₦5.78 billion.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) filed these charges before the Kwara State High Court, presided over by Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar.
The charges accuse Abdulfatah Ahmed and Banu of diverting and misappropriating public funds intended for state projects and security.
This new arraignment follows the withdrawal of the case from the Federal High Court in Ilorin.
The withdrawal occurred due to the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike.
Previously, Ahmed and Banu were arraigned on April 29, 2024, on a 12-count charge of mismanagement of public funds.
They pleaded not guilty at that time. Because of Justice Anyadike’s transfer, the trial will now start de novo.
In the new charges, Ahmed’s name appears in all counts except for count 7, where he is solely accused of failing to declare assets.
Among the allegations, Ahmed is accused of misusing ₦1.6 billion meant for state security to charter private jets.
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Additionally, the former governor and Banu allegedly conspired to misappropriate funds intended for the salaries of teachers and infrastructural projects.
EFCC Charges Against Abdulfatah Ahmed
Count one of the charges states: “That you, ABDULFATAH AHMED (while being the Governor of Kwara State) and ADEMOLA BANU (while being the Commissioner of Finance of Kwara State), on or about 14 January 2015, did illegally spend the sum of ₦1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) to pay salaries of civil servants, which sum formed part of the funds allocated for the execution of the projects stated in the action plan for the year 2013″.
On Monday, EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs, who is a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), presented the 14-count charge.
The defense counsels, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, and Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, did not object to the proceedings.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty, and the court granted them bail in the sum of ₦100 million, requiring two sureties each.
The trial is set to continue on December 4 and 5, 2024.
