The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission recently brought forward 14 new charges of alleged N5.78 billion fraud against the former governor of Kwara State, Abdulfattah Ahmed, and his Commissioner of Finance, Mr Ademola Banu, at a Kwara State High Court presided by Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar.
The charges focus on the purported diversion and misuse of public funds intended for various projects and the security of the state. Following a transfer of the trial judge from the Federal High Court in Ilorin, the case was withdrawn and re-arraigned at the state high court.
Among the accusations, Abdulfattah Ahmed is alleged to have spent a significant amount of public funds on chartering private jets instead of using it for state security and administration. The duo is also accused of misappropriating funds meant for teachers’ salaries, security, and infrastructure in the state.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail by Justice Abdulgafar in the sum of N100 million each, with specific conditions for the sureties. The case is scheduled for further proceedings on December 4 and 5, 2024.