Court Grants Former Kwara Governor, Ahmed N50m Bail, Case Adjourned to April 29

The Ilorin Zonal Command of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday, arraigned former governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, before a Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin on a 12-count charge bordering on money laundering.

However, Ahmed was later granted bail with the sum of N50 million and two sureties in like sum.

The EFCC is investigating the former governor and his Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Demola Banu (2nd defendant) over offences bordering on money laundering allegedly committed during his tenure between 2015-2019.

The Ilorin Zonal Command of the anti-graft agency had on February 19, invited the former governor in continuation of its ongoing investigation where he was detained and taken to court yesterday.

The second defendant was however absent from court and was neither represented by his counsel.

Counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, had told the court that the second defendant "jumped administrative bail" asking the court to issue a summon, warrant of arrest or both on the defendant.

He alleged that the 2nd defendant on getting wind of the arrest of the 1st defendant jumped the administrative bail earlier granted him and travelled to the United Kingdom.

"The EFCC men visited his house severally but could not be found," he said.

Jacobs said the surety to the second defendant, had also "cut off his line" and could no longer be reached.

On the 1st defendant, the EFCC asked the court to accept the 12-count charge preferred against him and allowed such be read to him to take his plea.

Some of the charges read: "That you, Abdulfatah Ahmed (while being the Governor of Kwara State) between 2015 and 2019 in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court used an aggregate sum of N1,610,730,500.00 (one billion, six hundred and ten million, seven hundred and thirty thousand, five hundred naira) property of Kwara State Government, meant for the security and running cost of the Government of Kwara State to charter private jets through Travel Messengers Limited on different occasions for your local travels and which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceeds of your unlawful act, to wit: Criminal Breach of Trust or Theft and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) (a) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2011 (As Amended) and punishable under section 15 (3) of the same Act.