The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has filed charges against former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed at the Federal High Court in Ilorin.
Nonetheless, journalists were barred from covering the former governor’s arraignment because they were denied access to the courtroom.
Speaking to journalists outside the court premises, Wahab Oba, Chief Press Secretary to Ahmed, expressed dismay over what he characterized as a secretive trial of the former governor. He asserted that the trial appeared to be politically motivated prosecution.
“The former governor Dr. Ahmed is supposed to be arraigned by the EFCC so we are here to witness the commencement of the trial. Ordinarily the court is an open place, our concern is that the trial should be transparent and open.
“We cannot understand why the police have denied especially journalists from covering the event,” Oba said.
On Monday, Ahmed was detained by the anti-graft agency for questioning regarding transactions amounting to billions of naira during his tenure as governor of the state.
He served as governor of the North Central state from May 2011 to May 2019 before handing over to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
In May 2021, he underwent questioning by a specialized team of operatives at the EFCC headquarters in the Jabi area of Abuja, the nation’s capital. The inquiry was linked to the suspected diversion of funds amounting to approximately N9 billion from the Kwara State Government’s treasury.
The funds were purportedly diverted while Ahmed held office as governor of the state, as well as during his tenure as the Commissioner for Finance in the administration of former Governor Bukola Saraki.