Abdulfatah Ahmed, former Kwara Governor, was on Monday re-arraigned alongside his finance commissioner, Ademola Banu, on a 14-count charge for alleged stealing and mismanagement of N5.78 billion of state funds.
The duo were arraigned before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, brought them before the current judge following the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin.
Mr. Dele Oyewole, Head of Media and Publicity of the anti-graft agency, said in a statement on Monday that the duo were first arraigned on a 12-count charge of mismanagement of public funds before Justice Anyadike on April 29, 2024, to which they pleaded not guilty.
Media reports stated that Mr. Ahmed and his finance commissioner were accused of conspiring to steal funds of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board.
After a formal presentation of the case before the trial judge by counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, and concurrence by the lead counsel to the defendants, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN and Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, the duo pleaded not guilty.
Subsequently, the defence counsel sought the leave of the court to move oral applications for the bail of the defendants.
They told the court that the case had started since 2019 and the defendants were granted administrative bail by the Commission, which they had never jumped.
They urged the court to exercise its discretion and admit the defendants to bail as all the offences levelled against them are bailable.
Ruling on the applications, Justice Abdulgafar admitted Abdulfatah and Banu to bail in the sum of N100 million, with two sureties each. One of the sureties must be a Permanent Secretary, serving or retired.
The case was adjourned till December 4 – 5, 2024, for commencement of trial.
