Court adjourns ex-Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed’s trial to June 10
By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin
The Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has adjourned the ongoing trial of former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed to June 10 and 11, 2025. The former governor is facing allegations of diverting N5.78 billion in Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds.
At the previous court session, the sixth prosecution witness (PW6), Suleiman Oluwadare Ishola, a former Accountant-General of Kwara State, corroborated earlier testimonies regarding the borrowing of UBEC funds during Ahmed’s administration to pay salaries and pensions.
Testifying before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar, Ishola revealed that in 2015, the state government borrowed N1 billion from UBEC’s matching grant to cover salary and pension obligations. He said he received a copy of a letter approving the transaction, which was signed by the then Governor and transmitted through the Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu.
His testimony aligned with that of a former SUBEB Chairman, Barrister Lanre Daibu, who had appeared before the court a day earlier. Daibu testified that although he was initially reluctant to approve the N1 billion loan due to UBEC’s strict guidelines, he eventually complied. He noted that the loan was not repaid during his tenure.
Ishola further explained that the N1 billion was credited to the state’s salary account at Polaris Bank but was insufficient to meet the entire wage bill. Consequently, an additional N740 million from other state funds was used to complete the payments.
The witness also confirmed that in 2016, he received a directive from the second defendant, Ademola Banu, to liquidate the loan. He stated that the loan repayment was documented in the state’s financial records.
During his testimony, Ishola mentioned that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) later invited him for questioning, where he was confronted with vouchers related to another N850 million loan allegedly taken by the state government.
The case, involving both Abdulfatah Ahmed and former Finance Commissioner Ademola Banu, is expected to continue with further witness testimonies and cross-examinations when the trial resumes in June.
