EFCC re-arraigns ex-Kwara gov, Ahmed, over alleged N5.78bn fraud

The Financial and Monetary Crimes Fee (EFCC) has filed contemporary 14-count fees towards a former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfattah Ahmed, and the Commissioner of Finance beneath his administration, Mr Ademola Banu, over an alleged N5.78 billion fraud.

The case is earlier than Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State Excessive Court docket.

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The duo have been charged with alleged diversion and misappropriation of public funds meant for the execution of some tasks and safety of the state.

The contemporary re-arraignment of the previous governor and his aide adopted the withdrawal of the case final Wednesday from the Federal Excessive Court docket, Ilorin the place they have been previously standing trial by the EFCC.

This was sequel to the switch of the previous trial choose, Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal Excessive Court docket, Ilorin to a different division.

Abdulfatah and Banu have been first arraigned on a 12-count cost of mismanagement of public funds earlier than Justice Anyadike on April 29, 2024, to which they pleaded not responsible.

Whereas the title of the ex-governor featured in all of the 14 counts, Banu’s title didn’t seem in Rely 7 the place solely Ahmed was accused of failure to fill property declaration type provided him by the EFCC upon his arrest.

The previous Governor was alleged of spending a sum of N1,610,730,500.00 meant for the safety and administration of the state to constitution non-public jets.

The EFCC stated the motion contravened Part 22(5) of the Corrupt Practices and Different Associated Offences Act, 2000.

The previous governor and his finance commissioner have been additionally alleged to have conspired to “steal cash that was meant to pay salaries of academics working with Kwara State Common Fundamental Schooling Board, meant to offer safety and different infrastructural services for the individuals of the State” amongst others.

When the case was known as, counsel for the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), urged the court docket to simply accept the amended fees and permit it to be learn to the defendants.

Responding, the lead counsel for the primary and second defendants, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) and Gboyega Oyewole (SAN) didn’t object to the applying.

Justice Abdulgafar granted the applying however the defendants pleaded not responsible to all the costs.

Thereafter, the defence counsel, via a separate software on behalf of their shoppers, sought the go away of the court docket to maneuver oral functions for the bail of the defendants.

They pleaded with the court docket to permit the bail previously granted to their shoppers to proceed arguing that the case had began since 2019 and the defendants have been granted administrative bail by the fee, which they’d by no means jumped.

They urged the court docket to train its discretion to confess the primary and second defendants to bail as all of the offences levelled towards them have been bailable.

Ruling on the functions, Justice Abdulgafar admitted the previous governor and the ex-commissioner to bail within the sum of N100 million.

The case was adjourned until December 4 and 5, 2024, for graduation of trial.