EFCC re-arraigns ex-gov Ahmed, ex-commissioner over alleged misappropriation of N3bn Kwara fund
By Dele Moses, Ilorin
Former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his commissioner for finance, Ademola Banu have been re-arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) at the state High Court in Ilorin over alleged misappropriation of public fund of about N3 billions and some other offences
They were re-arraigned at the court by the EFCC which had earlier arraigned them at the Federal High Court in Ilorin.
The duo were re-arraigned with 13-count charges while Ahmed faces additional one-count charge making his 14 charges.
The charges against the duo mostly alleged diversion of public fund from the account of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for other purposes.
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While some of the charges allege that the fund from the SUBEB account meant for execution of project under the educational scheme were for execution of projects not under the scheme, some others allege that the fund were diverted for payment of salaries of the state civil servants or refund of loans not connected with the scheme.
Counts eight and nine of the charge allege that parts of loans collected for execution of projects were diverted for chartering of private Jets for the use of the accused persons while I’m office.
Counts 10 to 14 allege that fund meant for provision of security was used on chattering private Jets for their use while in office.
The former governor was alone arraigned on the count seven which alleges that he failed to make a declaration in the declaration of assets form supplied to him by the EFCC on February this year.
The accused pleaded not quilty to the charges while the former governor also pleaded same to his lone charge.
Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar of the state High Court fixed December 3 for hearing after granting the accused bail in the sum of N100m each.
Counsel to the EFCC told newsmen that the re-arraignment in the state High Court from the Federal High Court was as a result of conclusion of investigation of other aspects of the allegations and to prevent moving from one court to another.