Ismail Abdulazeez Mantu, Reporting
Kwara State, Nigeria
Former Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, is currently being interrogated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over transactions running into billions of naira during his time as the state’s governor. Ahmed arrived at the Ilorin office of the anti-graft agency on Monday morning, responding to an invitation from the EFCC.
Ahmed, who served as governor of Kwara State from May 2011 to May 2019, is facing scrutiny regarding the expenditure of substantial amounts of money during his administration. Sources reveal that the EFCC is keen on unraveling how these funds were utilized under his leadership.
This is not the first time Ahmed has faced the EFCC’s inquiries. In May 2021, he was previously interrogated by a specialized team of operatives at the EFCC headquarters in the Jabi area of Abuja. The questioning at that time was related to the alleged diversion of funds amounting to approximately N9 billion from the coffers of the Kwara State Government. The diverted funds were purportedly misappropriated during Ahmed’s tenure as governor and when he held the position of Commissioner for Finance in the administration of ex-Governor Bukola Saraki.
The ongoing interrogation suggests a continued investigation into the financial activities during Ahmed’s term in office. As the former governor cooperates with the EFCC in providing answers to their inquiries, the public awaits further details regarding the allegations and the possible consequences if any wrongdoing is established.
Ahmed handed over the reins of Kwara State to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq in May 2019. The current investigation adds another layer to the scrutiny of financial transactions during the former governor’s tenure, and it remains to be seen how the EFCC’s probe will unfold in the coming days.