Former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Finance Commissioner Ademola Banu were re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday, October 21, 2024, for allegedly mismanaging N5.78 billion in public funds. The 14-count amended charge, read before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, included accusations of stealing and mismanaging funds meant for salaries, security and infrastructure.
The re-arraignment followed the transfer of the original trial judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike, prompting a restart of the case. Ahmed and Banu initially pleaded not guilty to a 12-count charge on April 29, 2024.
Specific allegations include:
Misuse of Public Funds: Ahmed and Banu allegedly spent N1 billion from the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Matching Grant account to pay civil servants’ salaries, violating the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act.
Criminal Breach of Trust: The duo allegedly transferred N990.5 million from the SUBEB account to Polaris Bank for loan repayment, contrary to the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act.
Failure to Declare Assets: Ahmed was accused of not filling out an assets declaration form provided by the EFCC upon arrest, violating the EFCC Act.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Their counsel, Kamaldeen Ajibade and Gboyega Oyewole, requested bail, citing the defendants’ previous administrative bail compliance since 2019. Justice Abdulgafar granted bail in the sum of N100 million with two sureties each, one of whom must be a serving or retired permanent secretary.
The trial is set to commence on December 4-5, 2024.
