BREAKING: EFCC arraigns former Kwara governor, Abdulfattah Ahmed in court

In a significant development, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has formally arraigned the former Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfattah Ahmed. As reported by Sahara Reporters, Ahmed appeared in court on Friday at the Federal High Court in Ilorin, the capital city of Kwara State.

The anti-graft agency leveled accusations against the ex-governor, alleging that he misappropriated the sum of N1,610,730,500.00 designated for state security and operational costs by chartering private jets during his tenure in office. This revelation surfaced in a document released by the EFCC on Thursday, disclosing Ahmed’s impending arraignment on charges related to an alleged N10 billion fraud, encompassing 12 counts.

Among the allegations, the EFCC specifically accused Ahmed of fraudulent conversion of N400 million from a N1 billion short-term loan obtained by the Kwara State Government from Ecobank Nigeria Limited. The funds were purportedly diverted to finance ongoing projects within the state.

The EFCC’s statement detailed the charges against Ahmed, highlighting his alleged misuse of state funds for personal gain. It read, “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, 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.”

Abdulfattah Ahmed previously served as the State Commissioner for Finance during Dr. Bukola Saraki’s tenure as governor. He assumed the governorship after Saraki’s tenure and held office from 2011 to 2019.