By Bellis Kweta
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed 14 new charges against former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed. Alongside his former Commissioner of Finance, Ademola Banu, Ahmed faces accusations of diverting state funds intended for public projects and security initiatives. These charges, now before a Kwara State High Court, follow the withdrawal of a previous case at the Federal High Court in Ilorin.
Ahmed and Banu are alleged to have misappropriated public funds earmarked for critical state initiatives, such as teachers’ salaries, security, and infrastructure. The EFCC’s re-arraignment stems from the transfer of Justice Evelyn Anyadike, who was initially overseeing the case.
New Fraud Charges Against Ahmed
The new charges filed on October 15, 2024, include counts of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of public funds. According to court documents, Ahmed and Banu are accused of illegally spending state funds, including a sum of ₦1 billion, originally allocated to the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). One of the charges reads, “That you, ABDULFATAH AHMED, did illegally spend the sum of ₦1,000,000,000.00 to pay salaries of civil servants in Kwara State“.
Further allegations include a count where Abdulfatah Ahmed alone is accused of failing to complete his assets declaration form upon arrest. The EFCC claims this act contravenes Section 27(3)(c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act, which could lead to a five-year prison sentence.
Misuse of Security Funds and Public Money
One of the major allegations is that Ahmed spent an aggregate sum of ₦1.61 billion, meant for state security and administration, on chartering private jets through Travel Messengers Limited. This action violates Section 22(5) of the Corrupt Practices Act, making it a punishable offense under the same section.
In another instance, the EFCC claims that Ahmed and Banu diverted ₦990 million from the Kwara SUBEB Matching Grant account into Polaris Bank. This money, meant for state educational projects, was allegedly used to repay loans rather than fund essential projects approved by the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC).
Count two of the charges read, “That you, ABDULFATAH AHMED, having dominion over the sum of ₦990,545,883.64, committed criminal breach of trust when you dishonestly transferred the said sum to Polaris Bank, contrary to the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act, 2004.“
Legal Proceedings and Bail Conditions
The charges were presented before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar at the Kwara State High Court. During the hearing, the EFCC’s counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, requested that the charges be read to the defendants. The defense counsels, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, and Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, did not oppose the application, leading Justice Abdulgafar to order the charges to be read in court.
Both Abdulfatah Ahmed and Ademola Banu pleaded not guilty to all charges. Following the plea, the defense lawyers moved for bail, urging the court to allow the defendants to remain on the administrative bail that had been granted in previous hearings. They argued that the defendants had complied with all bail conditions since the case began in 2019 and had not jumped bail.
After hearing the arguments, Justice Abdulgafar admitted Ahmed and Banu to bail, setting the sum at ₦100 million with two sureties each. The court specified that one surety must be a serving or retired permanent secretary within Kwara State.
The case has been adjourned for further hearing on December 4 and 5, 2024.
