How ex-Governor Abdulfatah allegedly diverted ₦5.78bn UBEC funds in Kwara – EFCC

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin –

The trial of former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, has revealed how the ex-governor allegedly diverted ₦5.78 billion Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds to salaries, loans, and road projects instead of education.

This disclosure was made on Monday by Stanley Ujilibo, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), who testified as the sixth prosecution witness.

Ujilibo told the court that the funds released to the Kwara State Government for 2013, 2014, and 2015 were not utilised according to the budget submitted by the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

According to the witness, SUBEB had presented detailed action plans outlining various educational projects across the state, supported by evidence of counterpart funding, to persuade the Federal Government through UBEC to release matching grants for the benefit of pupils in primary and junior secondary schools.

“However, the money wasn’t used for that purpose as it was moved from the UBEC matching grant accounts into the Kwara State Government’s central account domiciled in a commercial bank,” Ujilibo disclosed.

He added that a portion of the funds was spent on projects such as the reconstruction of Omosebi Bridge, Coca-Cola Road Bridge, Michael Imodu/Afon Junction Road, Lafiaji Township Road, and the rehabilitation of the Ilorin water supply network—projects that had no direct link to basic education.

The investigator further stated that N952,297,297.30, the UBEC fund for 2014, was used for principal loan repayment. He also said that a request allegedly signed by Banu sought approval to obtain a ₦1 billion loan from SUBEB counterpart funds to augment workers’ salaries.

According to Ujilibo, the funds intended to improve infrastructure and learning conditions in primary and junior secondary schools were ultimately deployed for purposes outside their statutory mandate and without direct benefit to pupils. Following the testimony, Justice Abdulgafar adjourned the case to April 20, 2026.