Former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, alongside his Finance Commissioner, Ademola Banu, was re-arraigned on Monday on a 14-count charge relating to the alleged mismanagement and theft of N5.78 billion in public funds.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ilorin Zonal Directorate, re-arraigned the duo before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar at the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin. This followed the transfer of the previous trial judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike, who had presided over the case at the Federal High Court in Ilorin.
According to the EFCC, “Their re-arraignment became necessary due to the transfer of Justice Anyadike, which requires the case to start afresh.”
The duo was originally arraigned on April 29, 2024, on a 12-count charge of mismanaging public funds, to which they pleaded not guilty. However, Justice Anyadike’s transfer caused a restart in the proceedings.
The former governor’s name appeared in all 14 charges, while Ademola Banu’s name was excluded from count seven. In that count, Ahmed alone was charged with failing to complete an assets declaration form provided by EFCC officers during his arrest, a violation of Section 27(3)(c) of the EFCC Act No. 1 of 2004.
Among other allegations, Ahmed is accused of diverting N1,610,730,500 meant for state security and administration, using the funds to charter private jets through Travel Messengers Limited, contrary to Section 22(5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The ex-governor and his finance commissioner also face allegations of conspiring to divert funds intended to pay teachers under the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and for providing security and other infrastructure across the state.
One of the charges reads: “That you, ABDULFATAH AHMED (while being Governor of Kwara State) and ADEMOLA BANU (while being the Commissioner of Finance of Kwara State), on or about January 14, 2015, in Ilorin, did illegally utilize N1,000,000,000 meant for salaries of Kwara State civil servants, originally domiciled in the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) matching grant account, contrary to Section 22(5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
Another charge states: “That you, ABDULFATAH AHMED, and ADEMOLA BANU, between July 25 and September 7, 2016, committed criminal breach of trust by transferring N990,545,883.64 from the Kwara SUBEB matching grant account into Polaris Bank to repay loans granted to the Kwara State Government, violating the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act, 2004.”
During Monday’s hearing, EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, informed the court, “We have a 14-count charge dated October 15, 2024, and request your Lordship to accept and read it to the defendants.” Defense counsel Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, and Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, raised no objections.
Justice Abdulgafar accepted the charges, which were read to the defendants, who pleaded not guilty. The defense team subsequently sought bail for the accused, citing their cooperation with the EFCC since 2019.
The court granted bail in the sum of N100 million each, with two sureties, one of whom must be a Permanent Secretary, either serving or retired. The case is set for trial on December 4–5, 2024.
