Former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed allegedly diverted N1.6 billion designated for security and operational expenses to charter private jets, according to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Ahmed, who served as governor from 2015 to 2019, faced a 12-count charge related to the purported misappropriation of public funds amounting to N10 billion. The EFCC brought these charges against him and arraigned him before Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court in Ilorin.
The EFCC stated that Ahmed mismanaged public funds during his tenure, including diverting significant amounts intended for the security and administration of the state into chartering private jets. One specific charge against him highlighted his alleged use of an aggregate sum of N1,610,730,500.00 from the Kwara State Government’s funds for local travels via chartered jets through Travel Messengers Limited.
The EFCC argued that Ahmed should have known that these funds were obtained unlawfully and thus constituted a breach of trust or theft, violating Section 15(2)(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 (As Amended), punishable under Section 15 (3) of the same Act.
In addition to the charges related to financial mismanagement, Ahmed was accused of failing to disclose his assets as required by law. Specifically, he allegedly did not declare his assets in the Assets Declaration Form provided by EFCC officers after his arrest.
This failure contravened Section 27(3)(c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act No. 1 of 2004, carrying a potential sentence of five years imprisonment under Section 27(3) of the same Act.
