EFCC Re-Arraigns Ex-Kwara Governor, Commissioner Over Alleged N5.78bn Fraud

Reported by Ibadan Media

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday re-arraigned former Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfattah Ahmed, and his Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Ademola Banu, on 14 fresh charges of alleged N5.78 billion fraud before the Kwara State High Court, presided over by Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar.

According to The PUNCH, The charges relate to allegations of diversion and misappropriation of public funds intended for state projects and security purposes. The re-arraignment follows the withdrawal of the case from the Federal High Court in Ilorin, where it was originally being tried, due to the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike, to another division.

Abdulfatah and Banu were initially arraigned on April 29, 2024, on 12 counts of mismanagement of public funds, to which they both pleaded not guilty. However, with the transfer of the presiding judge, the trial had to restart from the beginning.

While all 14 charges include the former governor’s name, one charge (count 7) applies solely to Abdulfatah, accusing him of failing to complete an assets declaration form when arrested by EFCC officers, an offense under the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, punishable by up to five years in prison.

Among the allegations, Abdulfatah is accused of illegally spending N1.61 billion 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.

Both Abdulfatah and Banu are also accused of conspiring to embezzle funds meant for the salaries of teachers with the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), as well as funds intended for security and infrastructure development.

One of the charges reads: \"That you, ABDULFATAH AHMED (while being the Governor of Kwara State) and ADEMOLA BANU (while being the Commissioner of Finance), on or about January 14, 2015, in Ilorin, illegally spent N1 billion intended for civil servant salaries, which was originally earmarked for SUBEB projects approved by the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC). This act violates the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.\"

Another charge accuses both officials of misappropriating N990.54 million between July 25, 2016, and September 7, 2016, by transferring the sum from the SUBEB Matching Grant account to Polaris Bank to repay loan facilities, contrary to the Free Universal Basic Education Act.

During Monday\'s court proceedings, EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, presented the 14-count charge, requesting the court to accept and read the charges to the defendants. The defense counsels, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, and Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, did not object, and the charges were read, with both defendants pleading not guilty.

Following their plea, the defense requested that their clients\' previous bail conditions be upheld, arguing that the defendants had complied with the terms of their administrative bail since the case began in 2019.

Justice Abdulgafar granted bail to both Abdulfatah and Banu, setting the sum at N100 million with two sureties each, one of whom must be a serving or retired permanent secretary in Kwara State. The case was adjourned until December 4 and 5, 2024, for further hearings.