Witness says ex-Kwara governor did not receive SUBEB funds, trial continues

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin

An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Stanley Ujilibo, has told the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin that former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed did not directly receive any portion of the N5.78 billion State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) funds allegedly diverted in the case before the court.

Ujilibo, the sixth prosecution witness, made the disclosure on Wednesday during cross-examination in the ongoing trial of Ahmed and his former Commissioner for Finance and Economic Planning, Demola Nurudeen Banu.

The former governor and Banu are being prosecuted by the EFCC over the alleged diversion of funds belonging to the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board.

While testifying, the EFCC investigator stated that neither Ahmed nor the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) was a signatory to the Kwara SUBEB account under investigation.

He, however, told the court that the former governor approved a request for a N1 billion loan drawn from the state’s SUBEB counterpart fund, which was reportedly used to pay workers’ salaries.

According to Ujilibo, the request originated from Banu, who was then commissioner for finance, and the use of the funds was inconsistent with the statutory purpose for which the SUBEB fund was established.

The witness further disclosed that the EFCC did not investigate Ahmed’s personal bank accounts because the petition before the commission did not directly link him to the movement of the funds. He also noted that none of the accounting officers of Kwara SUBEB is standing trial, as they are appearing before the court as witnesses.

During the proceedings, counsel to Ahmed, AbdulRazaq Gold (SAN), sought an adjournment to enable the defence obtain copies of his client’s statements to the EFCC and asset declaration forms for further cross-examination. The application was opposed by EFCC counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, who argued that the defence had ample time since 2024 to request the documents. Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar declined the request but ruled that the defence could recall the witness after obtaining the documents. The case was subsequently adjourned to July 27 for continuation of trial.