Associates Move To Save Ex-Kwara Gov Ahmed From EFCC

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BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – Frantic efforts are being made by friends and associates to get soft landing for the immediate past governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, currently cooling his feet in the custody of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Competent sources said extensive contacts were already afloat by all concerned in the bid to immediately sort out issues around the allegations of official misconduct and gross abuse of public trust against Ahmed.

According to sources, some of the associates had escorted Ahmed to the Commission’s headquarters at about 10 O’clock on Monday morning, in response to an invitation by the anti-graft agency.

One of the close aides to the former Kwara Chief Executive disclosed that as his drilling by EFCC operatives went on for hours, extensive consultations were ongoing covering possible and available options required to get their man off the anti-corruption Commission’s hook.

EFCC’s Spokesperson, Mr Wilson Uwujaren, confirmed this development in Abuja, even as reports said arriving at the Agency’s headquarters, Ahmed was ushered into the interrogation room where he spent about seven hours chatting with officials.

Though details of the case are still sketchy, sources hinted Ahmed was questioned and made to write statements on allegations that relate to financial misappropriation and abuse of office when serving as Kwara state  governor for eight years.

Insiders at the Commission however said the former governor’s current travail may not be unconnected with how funds amounting to about N9 billion were allegedly diverted from the Kwara State government coffers into private pockets under his watch.

The alleged diversion is said to have taken place during Ahmed’s tenure as governor of the state as well as his time serving as the Commissioner for Finance in former Governor Bukola Saraki’s administration.

Appointed by Governor Saraki as Kwara State Commissioner for Finance in 2023, Ahmed also served as Treasurer of Commissioners of Finance Forum in Nigeria, as well as Chairman of Budget Formulation Committee and Economic Team of Kwara State.

He contested and won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primaries in the build-up to the 2011 general elections. Ahmed thereafter went on to win the Kwara governorship seat and re-election in 2015 as a two term governor.

The end of his tenure in 2019 left a sour taste for the then ruling PDP as the All Progressives Congress (APC) swept to power with the incumbent governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

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