EX-KWARA GOVERNOR ARRESTED BY EFCC FOR ALLEGED DIVERSION OF $10 BILLION

Abdulfatah Ahmed, a former governor of Kwara State, is scheduled to be charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for allegedly diverting more than N10 billion.

Ahmed accepted the invitation from the EFCC to the zonal office in Ilorin on Monday.

At the anti-graft agency’s office, investigators interrogated the former governor.

This was the third time the former governor was being questioned about the issue.

The invitation was sent to him on December 8, 2020.

A source at the agency that spoke with TheNation said, “The ex-governor was questioned on the diversion and mismanagement of N10billion funds of the Kwara State Government during his tenure as governor between 2011 and 2019.

“It is about alleged diversion, misappropriation of funds and money laundering. We have been on this investigation since 2019.

“We reached out to the ex-governor and we asked him to report to Ilorin Office because of jurisdiction. That was where he allegedly committed the offence.

“The ex-governor voluntarily reported to the EFCC’s office in Ilorin. There was no basis for arresting him.”

The source added: “We are trying to tidy up the investigation ahead of the arraignment of the ex-governor before the Federal High Court in Ilorin.

“We want to avert recourse to frivolous applications on jurisdiction which may drag for some time. We will put the ex-governor on trial in Kwara State.

“We have detained the former governor to enable him to respond to some issues.”

Ahmed’s spokesman, Wahab Oba, who confirmed the development, described the former governor’s visit to the EFCC as routine.

Oba said, “He was invited and he honoured them as he has always done.

“He’s always ready to respond to any query or question regarding his tenure as a governor of the state.

“There’s nothing unusual about the invitation and his honouring the anti-graft agency’s invitation.”

Ahmed was governor from May 29, 2011, to May 29, 2019.