Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara State has accused the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) of misleading the court in the ongoing trial of the former governor Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed and his former commissioner for Finance, Demola Banu.
However, former commissioner Banu, who was the second defendant has been declared wanted by the EFCC because he couldn’t be arrested and arraigned last Friday, alleging that jumped administrative bail.
Subsequently, the anti-graft office has sought a bench warrant to summon and compel the former commissioner to court.
However, the PDP has accused the EFCC of playing to the gallery with undue sensationalism.
PDP Publicity Secretary, Olusegun Adewara, in a statement, said that “the EFCC deliberately misled the Court when it claimed that Hon. Demola Banu jumped administrative bail and consequently demanded that bench warrant be issued against him.
“The agency’s poised was displayed in blackmailing and sensationalism in the agency’s prosecution of ex-governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and the former commissioner for finance, Hon Demola Banu.
“The charges prepared against Dr. Ahmed and Banu by findings were deliberately orchestrated to silence the voice of the opposition in Kwara State.
“The Party emphasized that at no point in time did Banu refuse to honour any invitation from the EFCC. In fact, the anti-graft agency did not extend an invitation to him.”
It noted that the Court was misled by the agency into issuing a bench warrant against Banu.
“Kwarans would recall that in 2019, Hon. Ademola Banu was earlier taken to court by the EFCC while those who were then in charge of the agency later realized that it was a wrong action, they voluntarily discontinued the case on 18th November 2020.
“We make bold to state that since November 2020, Banu had never been invited by the EFCC in respect of any matter whatsoever. Surprisingly, media reports claimed on Friday, 23rd February 2024 that Hon. Ademola Banu jumped EFCC’s administrative bail and subsequently had a bench warrant issued against him was misleading.”
PDP noticed that the charges against Ahmed and Banu are virtually the same charges the EFCC filed in 2020 but declared as baseless and unfounded which later led to the discharge of Banu.
“it is utterly laughable to allege that two individuals diverted Kwara State resources for merely performing their Constitutional responsibilities and duties,” it said.
