The Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has fixed December 3, 2024, for the commencement of the trial of a former governor of the state, Abdulfatah Ahmed, over a 15-count charge bordering on the alleged diversion of N3 billion public funds.
According to the charge sheet prepared by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the former governor is being charged with diverting Universal Basic Education (UBEC) funds for other purposes.
During their re-arraignment on Monday at the State High Court, Ilorin, the former governor and his former Finance commissioner, Demola Banu, pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail of N100m each.
The presiding judge, Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar, later fixed December 3, 2024, for the commencement of the trial.
The fresh re-arraignment of the former governor and his finance commissioner followed the withdrawal of the case last week Wednesday from the Federal High Court, Ilorin where they were formerly standing trial by the EFCC sequel to the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin to another division.
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.
