The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday filed 14 new charges of alleged N5.78 billion fraud against former governor of Kwara Abdulfattah Ahmed and the state’s ex-commissioner of finance Ademola Banu.
The new charges were filed before a Kwara State High Court presided by Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar.
This comes after the EFCC last week withdrew the case filed against Ahmed at the Federal High Court in Ilorin sequel to the transfer of Justice Evelyn Anyadike to another division.
Ahmed and Banu 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.
The EFCC alleges inter alia that Ahmed spent N1.6 billion meant for the security and administration of the state to charter private jets through Travel Messengers Limited, contrary to Section 22(5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same section.
On Monday, the defendants again pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Justice Abdulgafar admitted Ahmed and Banu to bail in the sum of N100 million with two sureties each.
The judge said one of the sureties must be a serving or retired permanent secretary in the state.
The case was adjourned till December 4 and 5, 2024, for further hearing.
