Alleged N5.8billion Fraud: EFCC Presents Third Witness Against ex-Kwara Governor, Finance Commissioner

The trial of former Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, over an alleged mismanagement of Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC’s  funds continued on Thursday, March 13, 2025 with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presenting its third witness, Engineer Abdulsalam Olarewaju Sirajudeen, before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin.

Ahmed and Banu are facing trial for the alleged misappropriation of UBEC funds to the tune of N5.78 billion.

Testifying before the court, Sirajudeen, a project manager with SUBEB in 2013 who later became Director of Physical Planning in 2017, explained the procedures for executing projects in primary and junior secondary schools using UBEC’s Matching Grants and Counterpart Funds.

He detailed his responsibilities, which included visiting schools across Kwara’s 16 local government areas to assess their needs, conducting surveys, documenting findings, and submitting reports to UBEC for approval and funding.

“The Physical Planning Department prepares the action plans based on guidelines provided by UBEC,” he said.  “UBEC then invites us to Abuja for discussions on the action plan.”

Led in evidence by EFCC’s  counsel,  Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Sirajudeen told the court that an action plan for 2013 was prepared and sent to UBEC for review and approval.

Explaining the project execution process under SUBEB, he said, “After approval, an advertisement is placed, inviting qualified contractors to bid. After four weeks, bidding takes place in the presence of all stakeholders, including UBEC representatives. Contractors who win the bids are then mobilized to project sites.”

He added that similar action plans were prepared for 2014 and 2015 and submitted to UBEC for approval. However, while bidders were invited, the projects were never awarded to contractors.

During cross-examination by the defense counsel, led by Jimoh Mumini, SAN, and Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, Sirajudeen confirmed that neither Ahmed nor Banu was a signatory to SUBEB accounts.

The judge adjourned the matter  to April 10–11, 2025, for further hearing.