The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission has revealed details of how the former governor of Kwara State, Abdulfattah Ahmed, allegedly arranged for the use of private jets using N1.6 billion which was intended for the security and operational expenses of the Kwara State Government.
The EFCC said, “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.”
In one of the counts, the EFCC accused Ahmed of fraudulent conversion of N400m of a N1bn short-term loan obtained by the Kwara State Government from Ecobank Nigeria Limited, meant for the completion of ongoing projects in the state.
The EFCC said, “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.”
The Chief Press Secretary to the former Governor, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, lamented Ahmed’s detention, stating that he had been given stringent bail conditions.
“Yes, he is still with the EFCC, and we are now in a dilemma over the issue because they keep changing the goalpost during the match. The case is taking a new dimension, which we don’t really understand for now. Initially, they said they wanted him to produce two sureties who are federal directors. The sureties came and were asked to provide landed properties in Abuja. We see this as a contradiction. The case was initially handled by the EFCC office in Abuja before it was transferred to Ilorin over the issue of jurisdiction. Additionally, he has been denied access to his doctors, medication, and direct access to his cook,” Oba said.
