The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has re-arraigned the immediate past governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed alongside his Finance Commissioner, Ademola Banu on a 14-count amended charge bordering on alleged stealing and mismanagement of public funds to the tune of N5.78billion before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.
Their re-arraignment on Monday, October 21, 2024 is sequel to the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin to another division.
Governor Abdulfatah and Banu were first arraigned on a 12-count charge of mismanagement of public funds before Justice Anyadike on April 29, 2024, to which they pleaded not guilty. However, the presiding judge was transferred in the course of trial.
Abdulfatah allegedly spent an aggregate sum of N1,610,730,500.00 (One Billion, Six Hundred and Ten Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred Naira), meant for the security and administration of the state to charter private jets through Travel Messengers Limited, contrary to Section 22(5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same section.
The erstwhile governor and his finance commissioner were accused to have conspired to steal money meant to pay salaries of teachers working with the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board and also to provide security and other infrastructural facilities for the people of the State among others.
