EFCC arraigns six Kwara SUBEB officials for alleged N96m fraud
By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin
The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned six officials of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) before Justice Akanbi of the State High Court sitting in Ilorin over alleged fraud.
The defendants face a four-count charge of criminal breach of trust and misappropriation of funds totaling N96 million.
The accused are:
- Ahmed Husain Olarewaju, Director of Finance and Supply
- Omole Omololu John, Controller of Finance and Accounts
- Fatai Oyerinde, Coordinator of the Salary Unit
- Mujeeb Ibrahim, Executive Officer for Accounts and Salary Schedule
- Salami Temitope Bashir and Dauda Aweda Quozim, staff members of the Salary Unit
Between 2018 and 2020, the defendants allegedly conspired to divert public funds belonging to the Kwara State Government for personal use.
One charge reads:
“That you, Ahmed Husain Olarewaju, Omole Omololu John, Fatai Oyerinde, Mujeeb Ibrahim, and Salami Temitope Bashir, between September 2018 and December 2018 at Ilorin, within the judicial division of the Kwara State High Court, being public officers entrusted with the gross sum of N33,891,982.37 from Kwara SUBEB funds domiciled in account No: 0031236028 at Sterling Bank Plc, committed criminal breach of trust punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code.”
Another charge alleges similar misappropriation of N30,406,629.09 between January and June 2019.
The defendants pleaded “not guilty” to all charges. Prosecution counsel Andrew Akoja requested a trial date and asked that the defendants be remanded in custody. Defense counsel Abdullahi Lawal made oral bail applications for his clients.
Justice Akanbi adjourned the case to Wednesday, April 16, 2025, for trial and ordered that the defendants be remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Ilorin.
