By DAYO ADESULU
14 New Counts Allege Misappropriation of Public Funds in Kwara State
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed 14 new charges of alleged fraud amounting to N5.78 billion against former Kwara State governor Abdulfattah Ahmed and his Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Ademola Banu. The charges were presented before the Kwara State High Court, presided over by Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar, on Monday.
Allegations of Diversion and Mismanagement
Ahmed and Banu face accusations of diverting and misappropriating public funds that were intended for various state projects and security initiatives. The new arraignment follows the withdrawal of the case from the Federal High Court in Ilorin last week, where they were previously standing trial. This change was necessitated by the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike.
Background of the Case
The former governor and his finance commissioner were initially arraigned on a 12-count charge of mismanagement of public funds on April 29, 2024, where they pleaded not guilty. However, due to the change in judicial personnel, the case has been reset and must now start anew.
Specific Charges Filed
The latest charges include allegations against Ahmed for failing to fill out an assets declaration form provided by EFCC officers upon his arrest. This particular charge is a violation of Section 27(3)(c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, which is punishable by up to five years in prison.
Among the serious allegations, Ahmed is accused of using N1,610,730,500 intended for state security and administration to charter private jets through Travel Messengers Limited, in violation of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
One of the charges states, “That you, ABDULFATAH AHMED and ADEMOLA BANU, on or about 14 January 2015 in Ilorin, did illegally spend the sum of N1,000,000,000.00 to pay salaries of civil servants in Kwara State, which sum was originally allocated for projects approved by the Universal Basic Education Board.”
Court Proceedings and Bail Hearing
During the proceedings on Monday, the EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, presented the 14-count charge dated October 15, 2024, to the court. Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges read to them. Their defense counsels sought to have the previously granted administrative bail continued, emphasizing that the defendants had complied with all bail conditions since the case began in 2019.
Justice Abdulgafar granted bail to both Ahmed and Banu in the sum of N100 million each, with two sureties required for each defendant, one of whom must be a serving or retired permanent secretary in the state.
Next Steps in the Legal Process
The court has adjourned the case until December 4 and 5, 2024, for further hearings, as the legal proceedings continue against the backdrop of significant public interest in the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in Kwara State.
