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.
“That you, Abdulfatah Ahmed (while being the Governor of Kwara State) and Ademola Banu (while being the Commissioner of Finance of Kwara State) sometime in 2019, in Ilorin within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court indirectly converted the sum of N400,000,000.00 (Four hundred million naira) out of the N1,000,000,000.00 (one billion naira) short-term loan obtained by the Kwara State Government from Ecobank Nigeria Limited for the purpose of completing some then ongoing projects and which sum you reasonably ought to have known formed part of the proceed of your unlawful Act, to wit: criminal breach of trust/theft and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 15(2) of the Money Laundering (prohibition) Act, 2011 (As Amended) and punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.”
The 1st defendant however pleaded not guilty to all the 12 charges levelled against him when read to him at the court.
Counsel to the 1st defendant, Kehinde Eleja (SAN), moved an oral application asking the court to grant the former governor bail.
His oral application was however objected to by the EFCC counsel on the grounds that such application should have been made formal and left at the discretion of the court.
He also argued that the 1st defendant being a former governor might interfere with investigation because according to him, “many of the witnesses that would be called to testify against him worked under him as subordinates.”
Jacobs also argued that the 1st defendant like the second defendant (Banu) now at large could “evade his trial” and also jeopardise investigation.
Replying to the argument of the EFCC counsel, Eleja, argued that “denying the 1st defendant bail will be tantamount to subjecting him to pre- trial punishments adding that he is presumed innocent until proven otherwise by the court.”
In her ruling Justice Evelyn Ayadike, granted the application of the EFCC counsel and ordered the arrest of the second defendant.
The judge granted him bail in the sum of N50 million and two sureties in like sum.
“The sureties must submit three passport photographs each including the defendants.
“One of the sureties must be owners of landed property within Ilorin .
“The original title documents the land must be submitted to the court registry.
“The defendants shall remain in EFCC custody pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.”
The case was adjourned to April 29 and 30th for trial.
