EFCC Unveils ₦5.78 Billion Charges Against Former Kwara Governor And Finance Commissioner

EFCC Unveils ₦5.78 Billion Charges Against Former Kwara Governor And Finance Commissioner

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed 14 fresh charges of alleged fraud amounting to ₦5.78 billion against former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his Finance Commissioner, Mr. Ademola Banu….CONTINUE READING 

The charges were presented before a Kwara State High Court, overseen by Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar, on Monday.

The allegations against Ahmed and Banu focus on the diversion and misappropriation of public funds intended for various projects and security initiatives within the state. This new arraignment follows the withdrawal of their case from the Federal High Court in Ilorin last week, where they were previously facing trial.

The transfer of the case was prompted by the reassignment of the former trial judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike, to another division. Ahmed and Banu were initially arraigned on a 12-count charge of mismanagement of public funds on April 29, 2024, to which both pleaded not guilty.

While Ahmed’s name appears in all 14 counts, Banu’s name is absent from count 7, which accuses only Ahmed of failing to complete an assets declaration form provided by EFCC officers during his arrest, an offence punishable by up to 5 years in prison under Section 27(3) of the EFCC Act.

Among other allegations, Ahmed is accused of spending ₦1,610,730,500.00 (One Billion, Six Hundred and Ten Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred Naira) meant for state security and administration on private jet charters through Travel Messengers Limited, in violation of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.

In one of the charges, it states: “That you, ABDULFATAH AHMED (while serving as Governor of Kwara State) and ADEMOLA BANU (while serving as Finance Commissioner), on or about January 14, 2015, in Ilorin, unlawfully expended ₦1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) intended for civil servant salaries in Kwara State, originally allocated to the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Matching Grant account, thus committing an offence under the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.”

When the case was called on Monday, EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the court that the 14-count charge dated October 15, 2024, was prepared and filed on the same day. The court accepted the charge, which was then read to the defendants. Both Ahmed and Banu pleaded not guilty.

Following this, their defense counsel applied to continue the bail previously granted, citing that the case had been ongoing since 2019 and that the defendants had not violated their administrative bail conditions. The court granted their request, setting bail for Ahmed and Banu at ₦100 million each, with two sureties required, one of whom must be a serving or retired permanent secretary in the state.

The case has been adjourned until December 4 and 5, 2024, for further proceedings.