Court vacates arrest warrant on ex-Kwara finance commissioner, Demola Banu

A Federal High Court sitting in Ilorin, Kwara State on Monday, vacated the bench warrant issued for the arrest of a former state Commissioner for Finance, Demola Banu.

The court had issued the arrest warrant requested by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on the allegation that Banu refused appearance.

At the commencement of the hearing between the anti-graft agency and the state’s former governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, first defendant, and the ex-commissioner, Justice Evelyn Nmasinulo granted the request sought by the lead counsel to Banu, Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, on the ground that the defendant was present at the hearing.

According to the proceedings, the defendants were charged with eleven counts bothering on financial impropriety while in office.

They however, pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Banu’s counsel sought bail for his client which was later granted at N5m and two sureties in like sum.

The counsel, however, pleaded for an adjournment to enable him file some documents that would aid the proper defence of his client.

Justice Nmasinulo later adjourned further sitting to June 25 and 26,2024.

In a chat with newsmen, the lead counsel to Banu, Barrister Oyewole said, “We vacated the bench warrant issued for the arrest of our client because it was wrongly issued and we secured adjournment to June 25 and 26.”