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EFCC re-arraigns ex-Kwara gov, ex-commissioner over alleged N5.78bn fraud

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The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Monday, filed 14 fresh charges of alleged N5.78 billion fraud against the former Kwara State governor, Abdulfattah Ahmed, and his Commissioner of Finance, Mr Ademola Banu, before a Kwara State High Court presided by Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar.

The duo were charged with alleged diversion and misappropriation of public funds meant for the execution of some projects and security of the state.

The fresh re-arraignment of the former governor and his finance commissioner followed the withdrawal of the case last week Wednesday from the Federal High Court, Ilorin where they were formerly standing trial by the EFCC sequel to the transfer of the former trial judge, Justice Evelyn Anyadike of the Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin to another division.

Abdulfatah 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.

However, the presiding judge was transferred in the course of the trial. Hence, the case has to start de-novo.

While the name of ex-governor Ahmed featured in all the 14 counts, Banu’s name did not appear in count 7 where only Ahmed was accused of failure to fill assets declaration form offered him by officers of the EFCC upon arrest contrary to Section 27(3)(c) of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act No. 1 of 2004, which is an offence punishable with a term of 5 years imprisonment under Section 27(3) of the same Act.

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Abdulfatah among sundry issues allegedly spent an aggregate sum of N1,610,730,500.00 (One Billion, Six Hundred and Ten Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty Thousand, Five Hundred Naira), 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.

The former governor and his finance commissioner were alleged to have conspired to steal money that was meant to pay salaries of teachers working with Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, meant to provide security and other infrastructural facilities for the people of the State among others.

Count one of the charges read, “That you, ABDULFATAH AHMED (while being the Governor of Kwara State) and ADEMOLA BANU (while being the Commissioner of Finance of Kwara State), on or about 14 January, 2015 in Ilorin, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did illegally spend the sum of N1,000,000,000.00 (One Billion Naira) to pay Salaries of civil servants in Kwara State which sum was originally domiciled in the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Matching Grant account and which sum formed part of the funds allocated for the execution of the projects stated in the action plan for the year 2013 and approved by the Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC) and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 22(5) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under the same section.”

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“That you, ABDULFATAH AHMED (while being the Governor of Kwara State) and ADEMOLA BANU (while being the Commissioner of Finance of Kwara State), between 25th July, 2016 and 7th September, 2016 in Ilorin, within the Jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, in such capacity having dominion over certain property, to wit; the sum of N990,545,883.64 (Nine Hundred and Ninety Million, Five Hundred and Forty-Five Thousand, Eighty Hundred and Eighty-Three Naira and Sixty-Four Kobo), committed criminal breach of trust in respect of the said sum, when you dishonestly transferred the said sum from the Kwara SUBEB Matching Grant account into Polaris Bank for the repayment of loan facilities granted to the Kwara State Government by the said bank contrary to the direction of the Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act, 2004, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to section 315 of the Criminal Code and punishable under the same section.”

When the case was called on Monday, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, told the court, that a 14-count charge dated October 15, 2024, was prepared and filed on the same date.

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“We urge your Lordship to accept the charge and allow it to be read to the defendants.”

Responding, the lead counsel to the first and second defendants, Kamaldeen Ajibade, SAN, and Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, did not object to the application.

Therefore, Justice Abdulgafar granted the application and ordered that the charge be read to the defendants.

The duo pleaded not guilty to all their respective charge when it was read to them.

Thereafter, the defence counsels through a separate application on behalf of their clients, sought the leave of the court to move oral applications for the bail of the defendants.

They pleaded with the Court to allow the bail formerly granted to their clients to continue arguing 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 to admit the first and second defendants to bail as all the offences levelled against them are bailable.

Ruling on the applications,  Justice Abdulgafar admitted the former governor (Abdulfatah) and his former Commissioner of Finance, Banu, to bail in the sum of N100 million with two surety each. One of the surety must be a serving or retired permanent secretary in the state.

The case was adjourned till December 4 and 5, 2024, for further hearing.

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13 dead as mining site collapses in Plateau

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At least 13 persons have been reported dead after a mining site collapsed in Bassa LGA of Plateau. 

Joshua Riti, chairman of the LGA, said the incident occurred on November 10. He added that seven of the deceased hail from Bassa LGA

The collapsed mining site is conterminous with Jos south and Jos north LGAs.

“This is an unfortunate incident. These young people were only out in search of a means of livelihood,” NAN quoted Riti as saying.

“They went out to put their energies to good use to sustain and meet up with the current economic hardship in the country but met their untimely death.

“I wish to extend my deepest condolences to the families and loved ones affected by this tragedy.”

Majority of the victims were said to be aged 18-30.

Mining accidents are becoming a recurring decimal in resource-rich Nigeria.

In June, a mining site collapsed in Niger state following a downpour. Seven persons were eventually rescued. 

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In January, two people were killed and 77 injured in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, due to the activities of “illegal miners”. 

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US lists Nigerian among 15 most wanted criminals, places $25,000 bounty on his head

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The United States of America has offered a $25,000 reward for anyone who could provide it with information that could facilitate the arrest of a Nigerian, Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi, who is reportedly facing trial for the alleged murder of his child.

It was gathered from a statement credited to the Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal, Don Freeman, and obtained from the agency’s website on Monday, that Olawusi has also been named among the 15 most wanted fugitives in the US.

Freeman noted that Olawusi, who lived in Rhodes Island, US, was arraigned on two counts bordering on first-degree murder caused by inflicting bodily injury to a child and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution.

He added that the incident occurred on April 3, 2017, after police operatives and firefighters found the three-month-old child and rescued him at the hospital where it was discovered that the child had suffered injuries in 18 parts of his body. The discovery was said to have led to the arrest of Olawusi.

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Upon his arrest, Olawusi was charged in court on April 20, 2017, but his whereabouts became unknown after he was released the same day while the trial was pending.

 

Freeman added that the infant died six months after being hospitalised as a result of the injuries he had allegedly sustained from his father’s abuse which prompted the prosecuting department to include a murder charge in the ongoing trial.

He said, “A man wanted in Rhode Island on charges of murder, inflicting serious bodily injury to a child and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution has been added to the U.S. Marshals Service 15 Most Wanted fugitives list with an up to $25,000 reward being offered for information leading to his arrest.

“Olalekan Abimbola Olawusi, 48, was charged in Providence with first-degree murder and two counts of inflicting serious bodily injury to a child after Providence Police and Fire personnel found his three-month-old son bleeding from the mouth and nose at a residence on April 3, 2017.

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“The child was transported to the hospital in cardiac arrest and needed to be resuscitated to regain a pulse. An examination at the hospital noted 18 injuries at various stages of healing, indicating a pattern of long-term abuse. These injuries included a skull fracture, subdural hematoma, significant brain injury, and fractures of the child’s ribs, clavicle, legs and arms. He was placed on life support but died six months later.

 

“Providence police arrested and charged Olawusi on April 20, 2017, with first-degree child abuse. He was released the same day and subsequently fled. The murder charge was added following the infant’s death on October 31, 2017.”

The US Supervisory Deputy Marshall noted that after frantic efforts to locate Olawusi, it was discovered that he had fled the country on June 20, 2017, while stressing that further investigation revealed that he was receiving assistance from family members in Nigeria.

 

He added that the suspect has been placed on the wanted list because he could pose a danger to children and other members of the public and the US would deploy all its resources to ensure that he faces justice.

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“Olawusi is wanted for the abuse and murder of an innocent child and has fled the country to avoid justice. We have placed Mr Olawusi on our 15 Most Wanted list due to the heinous crimes he’s committed and the threat he continues to pose to the public. The USMS will exhaust all resources necessary to bring him to justice for his family and the community.

 

“Olawusi, who uses the alias Olekun Olawusi, stands 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs approximately 185 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes. Information regarding his whereabouts may be reported to the U.S. Marshals at 1-877-WANTED2 (926-8332) or via the USMS Tips App,” Freeman concluded.

 

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Two killed in Ogun ‘armed robbery attack’

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The Ogun police command says suspected armed robbers have reportedly killed two persons during an attack in Abeokuta, the state capital.

A statement on Monday by Omolola Odutola, police spokesperson in the state, said the incident occurred in the parking lot of Diamond Dumplings, GRA, in Abeokuta.

The police spokesperson said that three armed individuals, traveling in an unregistered black Toyota Hilux, stopped a black Mercedes Benz GLE 350 and demanded its keys.

“The incident occurred at about 12:30a.m in the parking lot of Diamond Dumplings, GRA, Abeokuta,” Odutola was qouted as saying.

“Three armed men in an unregistered black Toyota Hilux confronted the occupants of a black Mercedes Benz GLE 350 with a DLA license plate, demanding the car keys.

“The assailants opened fire, hitting one Ola (surname unknown) and one Shobanke Oluwatimileyin and two others.

“The Divisional Police Officer from Ibara, responding to distress calls, arrived the scene and ensured the area was secure before transporting the victims to the hospital.

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“Upon their arrival, the attending doctor confirmed two fatalities, while the other two individuals are receiving medical attention at the Federal Medical Centre, Idi Aba, Abeokuta.”

Odutola said a probe has begun to uncover the circumstances surrounding the double fatalities and possible “cult” involvement connections.

She added that efforts to capture the suspects would continue, and the public would be kept abreast of developments in the investigation.

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