Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court has fixed December 3, 2024, for the commencement of the trial of the immediate past governor of Kwara Abdulfatah Ahmed over a 15-count charge bordering on the alleged diversion of N3 billion public fund.
The former governor, who was re-arraigned from the Federal High Court, Ilorin, is being charged with diverting Universal Basic Education (UBEC) funds for other purposes.
During the re-arraignment on Monday at the State High Court, Ilorin, the former governor, and his former Finance commissioner Demola Banu pleaded not guilty to the charges and were granted bail in the sum of N100 million each.
The presiding judge, Justice Abdulgafar, later fixed December 3, 2024, for the commencement of the trial.
In an interview with journalists, the counsel to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Rotimi Jacobs said that the re-arraignment of the former governor from the Federal High Court to the state High Court was due to the conclusion of the investigation of other aspects of the allegations and to prevent moving from one court to another.