From Taiye Joseph, Ilorin
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arraigned six officials of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), before Justice Suleiman Akanbi of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, over allegations of misappropriating N96 million of public funds.
The case, filed by the EFCC’s Ilorin Zonal Directorate, accuses the defendants of abusing their positions and diverting government funds between 2018 and 2020.
The officials charged include 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 in Accounts and Salary Schedule), and two other staff members of the Salary Unit, Salami Temitope Bashir and Dauda Aweda Quozim.
One of the charges states that the defendants, as public officers, were entrusted with N33.8 million domiciled at Sterling Bank Plc, but allegedly breached public trust, an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code. Another charge accuses them of misappropriating N30.4 million between January and June 2019.
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The defendants pleaded not guilty to all four charges. EFCC’s counsel, Andrew Akoja, urged the court to set a trial date and remand them in the Nigerian Correctional Centre. However, the defence counsel, Abdullahi Lawal, applied for bail on their behalf.
Justice Akanbi adjourned the trial to April 16, 2025, and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Ilorin until further proceedings.
