EFCC Arraigns Kwara’s Ex-Finance Commissioner For N1.22bn Fraud

• Oyewole prayed the court to discharge the bench warrant earlier issued against his client, which the EFCC counsel did not oppose.
• In a short ruling, Anyadike vacated the bench warrant on the second defendant.

Ademola Banu, a former Kwara commissioner for finance, has been charged by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) with money laundering and theft of public funds totaling N1.22 billion.

Banu was arraigned before Evelyn Anyadike, a federal high court judge in the capital city of Kwara state, on Monday.

As the commissioner of finance, he is accused of plotting to siphon off cash between May 2011 and May 2019 under the government of Abdulfatah Ahmed, the former governor of Kwara.

In a press statement on Tuesday, Dele Oyewale, EFCC spokesperson, said Banu was to be arraigned alongside the former governor on February 23 but was absent in court and had no legal representation.

The court then issued a bench warrant against him upon an application by Rotimi Jacobs, counsel to the EFCC.

The former governor was arraigned on the 12-count charge and the matter was adjourned till April 29.

At the resumed sitting, Ahmed and Banu, listed as the first and second defendants, respectively, were present in court.

When the case was called, A. A. Ajibade announced the appearance for Ahmed, while Gboyega Oyewole represented Banu.

Oyewole prayed the court to discharge the bench warrant earlier issued against his client, which the EFCC counsel did not oppose.

In a short ruling, Anyadike vacated the bench warrant on the second defendant.

Banu pleaded not guilty to the counts.