Ilorin — A state High Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, yesterday fixed December 3, 2024, for the full commencement of the trial of the immediate-past state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, and the former state Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu.

The duo are facing 15-counts charge bordering on alleged diversion of N3 billion public fund during their tenure. They were earlier arraigned before Federal High Court in Ilorin before the case was later transferred to the state High Court in Ilorin.

During the re-arraignment yesterday at the state High Court in Ilorin, the former governor and his former finance commissioner, Banu, pleaded not guilty to the charges, and were granted bail in the sum of N100 million each.

The presiding Judge, Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar, in his ruling on the case fixed December 3, 2024, for the commencement of the trial.

In an interview with journalists, the EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, said that the re-arraignment of the former governor from the federal High Court to the state High Court was as a result of conclusion of investigation of other aspects of the allegations and to prevent moving from one court to another.

Also speaking, the lead counsel to the former governor and Banu, Mr. Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), said that: "We are ready for EFCC wherever the court they may take the case because we have no skeleton in our cupboard.

Ajibade, however, said that the court was magnanimous in its ruling in giving Ahmed and Banu bail with N100million in like sums.