Wild jubilation erupted at the Federal High Court in Ilorin on Friday as Justice Evelyn Anyadike granted bail to former Kwara State governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, who was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, for alleged misappropriation of state funds.
He was arraigned on a 12-coumt charge alongside his former Commissioner of Finance, Ademola Banu, who was however, not in court.
The former governor pleaded not guilty when the charge was read to him in court.
The trial judge granted Ahmed bail in the sum of N50 million, which must be in form of bond, and two sureties, one of who must have a landed property in Ilorin.
The former governor is also to deposit his international passport with the court registry amd seek permission if he wants to travel outside the country, as trial of his case begins on April 29 and 30, 2024.
Ahmed was driven to the command office of the anti-graft agency from the court premises after about 12.20 pm pending when the stringent bail conditions will be met.
In a chat with journalists outside the court, counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, said Ahmed’s defence counsel, Kehinde Eleja, SAN, requested for the defendant’s bail application orally.
He said the court granted the bail on eight stringent conditions.
In his reaction, counsel to the former governor, Barrister Kehinde, said the arraignment was sequel to investigations into the case which started about five years ago.
“We made an oral application for the bail of the defendant, even though the prosecution said it was at the discretion of the court.
“The court, in its wisdom, after considering the arguments on both sides, decided to exercise its discretion in favour of the defendant, especially in view of the antecedents of the first defendant (Abdulfatah Ahmed) who had always voluntarily responded to EFCC invitation, the last one being last Monday and for which period he has been in EFCC custody till today, Friday, that he was charged to court.
“The court also made an order granting accelerated hearing of the case,” he added.
