From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
Fresh details have emerged in the ongoing trial of former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, as an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), told the court how N5.78 billion meant for basic education projects was allegedly diverted to other uses.
The case, which resumed on Monday before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar, of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, centres on the alleged misapplication of funds released by the Universal Basic Education Commission to support primary and junior secondary education in the state.
Testifying as the sixth prosecution witness, EFCC investigator Stanley Ujilibo, said the funds approved for 2013, 2014 and 2015, were not utilised in line with the action plans earlier submitted by the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
According to him, SUBEB officials had travelled to Abuja to defend comprehensive action plans detailing proposed projects across the 16 local government areas of the state.
“My Lord, a team of officials from SUBEB comprising the Chairman, Director of Finance and Account, Project Manager and other top management staff went to Abuja to defend the action plans for 2013, 2014 and 2015, citing the deplorable state of primary and junior secondary schools across the state,” Ujilibo told the court.
He explained that the plans were backed with evidence of counterpart funding to enable the Federal Government release matching grants through UBEC for the benefit of school pupils.
However, the witness alleged that investigations showed the UBEC matching grants were later transferred from designated accounts into the Kwara State Government’s central account in a commercial bank.
Ujilibo further told the court that part 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.
“These projects had no direct link to basic education,” he stated, insisting that the funds were meant strictly for improving infrastructure and learning conditions in primary and junior secondary schools.
The EFCC investigator also revealed that N952,297,297.30 from the 2014 UBEC allocation was allegedly used for the liquidation of a loan principal.
In addition, he told the court that a request purportedly signed by the second defendant sought approval to obtain a N1 billion loan from SUBEB counterpart funds to augment the payment of workers’ salaries.
According to the witness, the cumulative effect of the transactions was that funds earmarked to upgrade classrooms, facilities and learning materials for pupils were deployed for purposes outside their statutory mandate.
After the prosecution concluded its examination, Justice Abdulgafar, adjourned the matter to April 20, 2026, for cross-examination of the witness as the trial continues.
