The trial of former Kwara State Governor, AbdulFatah Ahmed, and his former finance commissioner, Demola Banu, over an alleged diversion of N5.78 billion Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds continued at the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, with fresh revelations from witnesses presented by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission. At the resumed hearing on Thursday, a key witness, Engineer Abdulsamad Olanrewaju Abdulsalam, testified that all 2013 infrastructural projects under the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board were successfully executed beyond expectations.
Engineer Abdulsamad, who served as the Project Manager of Kwara SUBEB between 1998 and 2017, made this statement while being cross-examined by defense counsel Mumuni Jimoh. The witness stated that his role in the agency focused on infrastructure needs for public primary and junior secondary schools. He noted that a monitoring team from the Universal Basic Education Commission in Abuja had assessed the 2013 projects and expressed satisfaction with their implementation. He told the court that all the infrastructure projects were completed without any hindrance and that the contractors were fully paid after initial delays. He further emphasized that the former governor and his finance commissioner were not among those who authorized or controlled the financial transactions of the agency. Instead, signatories to the agency’s account included the accountant, the permanent secretary, and the executive chairman of the board.
The prosecution, led by EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs, had accused the former governor and his finance commissioner of diverting UBEC intervention funds that were meant for the development of public primary and junior secondary schools in the state. However, Abdulsamad’s testimony suggested that at least the 2013 contracts had been implemented as planned, with funds disbursed accordingly to the contractors who had executed the projects. He noted that though the state had paid its counterpart funding of ₦952 million in 2014 and ₦869 million in 2015, no new contracts were awarded for those years. Instead, the funds were deposited in a designated account, while payments were later made to contractors for the 2013 projects.
Another EFCC witness, Dr. Musa Dasuki, provided further details regarding the appropriate use of UBEC funds, stating that the intervention funds were strictly meant for infrastructural development in public primary and junior secondary schools. During his testimony, he explained that it was unlawful to divert such funds for any purpose other than school infrastructure. He told the court that the counterpart funds from the state government and the federal allocation to UBEC and SUBEB were designed to ensure that schoolchildren across the country received quality education through improved infrastructure. He further stated that before the alleged misappropriation of funds, there was no formal board meeting to approve any decision to repurpose the funds for any other use.
Under cross-examination by defense counsel Gboyega Oyewole, Dr. Dasuki reiterated that the financial allocations given to SUBEB were not to be tampered with under any circumstances. He added that any use of the funds outside of their intended purpose would be considered a clear violation of federal regulations governing basic education funding. The EFCC presented documents and financial records to support its claim that funds had been transferred out of the designated accounts, a move that the commission considered a breach of due process.
Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar, who is presiding over the case, adjourned further hearings until April 12, 2025. The case has continued to draw significant public attention, with observers keenly watching to see if the former governor and his finance commissioner will be held accountable for the allegations against them. Legal analysts say the case could set an important precedent in Nigeria’s fight against corruption in the education sector, especially in ensuring that funds meant for school infrastructure are not misappropriated.
Stay informed with the latest news from Nigeria and beyond. Join us on WhatsApp or Telegram for real-time updates. Have a report or article? Send it to report@trendingnaijanews.com. Follow us on X (Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook for more updates.