Protest erupted at the Ilorin Zonal Command office of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, on Wednesday over the continued detention of a former governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed.

Ahmed’s detention at the EFCC Ilorin office entered a third day on Wednesday.

it was gathered that Ahmed is being grilled over alleged financial misconduct during his tenure as Kwara State governor.

Wednesday’s protest by Ahmed’s supporters, which commenced in the morning, ended at about 12:23 pm after an EFCC official, Micheal Nzekwe, addressed the protesters.

The protesters, comprising loyalists of the former governor and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, members, sang solidarity songs and carried placards with inscriptions such as ‘Opposition can’t be silenced’, ‘EFCC not Department in APC’, ‘Governor Abdulfatah Was Transparent ‘, ‘Maigida will not Join APC no Matter The Persecution’, among others.

Speaking on behalf of the protesters, the spokesman of the PDP in the state, Olusegun Olushola Adewara, condemned the continued detention of the former governor, insisting that he should be charged to court if found culpable.

He said there was no reason under the law to detain him beyond 48 hours, even if he has questions to answer.

Adewara alleged that Ahmed was being persecuted by the ruling government in a bid to force him join the All Progressives Congress, APC.

Addressing the protesters, the EFCC official, Nzekwe, said the Nigerian constitution allows protests but they must be conducted peacefully.

He said the agency was responding to serious and strong petitions forwarded by citizens which were being handled with due diligence and the rule of law.

He said necessary action would be taken upon conclusion of the investigation by the anti-graft agency, adding that the former governor was cooperating with the operatives.

The EFCC official added that nobody has been stopped from seeing Ahmed, including his lawyer and personal doctor, asserting that the Commission will not go contrary to the law.

He also disclosed that the former governor had been given bail conditions, which he is yet to meet.

A detachment of the policemen in two pick up vans later arrived the Commission’s office to maintain law and order.