The embattled former governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, was granted a ₦50 million bail by a Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin after he pleaded not guilty to 12 counts of alleged mismanagement of public funds amounting to ₦10 billion, News About Nigeria reports.
The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arraigned Ahmed before Justice Evelyn Anyadike on Friday.
Ahmed, who had been in EFCC custody since his initial invitation for questioning on Monday, faced charges related to the misuse of ₦1,610,730,500.00 meant for the security and running costs of the Kwara State Government.
The charges allege that the former governor chartered private jets for local travels through Travel Messengers Limited during his tenure from 2015 to 2019.
Another charge accused Ahmed of converting ₦411 million meant for the state’s security provision between January and December 2018.
The former Kwara State Commissioner of Finance, Ademola Banu, was also named as the second defendant, facing a 10-count charge related to the mismanagement of public funds during Ahmed’s administration.
EFCC’s lead counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), informed the court that Banu had jumped an administrative bail granted by the EFCC and efforts to arrest him had been unsuccessful.
Jacobs urged the court to issue a summons against Banu’s surety, Salami Bashiru Ola, and/or a warrant of arrest against Banu.
In response, the defence led by Kehinde Eleja, SAN, did not present any defence for the second defendant, stating his appearance was for the first defendant.
Justice Anyadike issued a bench warrant against Banu and admitted Ahmed to bail at ₦50 million with two sureties in like sum.
The sureties were required to deposit their passports with the court’s registrar, and one must possess a landed property in Ilorin, with the title documents deposited with the Federal High Court’s Registrar.
The judge ordered Ahmed to be remanded in EFCC custody until the fulfillment of his bail conditions.
The trial was scheduled to commence on April 29th and 30th, 2024.
