Ex-Kwara governor Ahmed promised to repay ‘diverted’ N5bn UBEC fund, EFCC witness tells court

A witness of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has told a federal high court in Ilorin that Abdulfatah Ahmed, former governor of the state, promised to repay over N5 billion education fund allegedly diverted by his administration. 

Ahmed was re-arraigned alongside Ademola Banu, a former commissioner for finance, in October before Mahmood Abdulgafar, the presiding judge, on a 14-count charge bordering on alleged stealing and mismanagement of public funds to the tune of N5.78 billion.

The former governor and Banu were accused of conspiring to divert money from the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) — which were funds allocated for the execution of the projects stated in the action plan.

The duo pleaded not guilty to their respective charges when they were read to them.

Led in evidence by Rotimi Jacobs, EFCC lawyer, at the court session on Wednesday, Dasuki, a retired permanent secretary at the Kwara SUBEB who served between 2011 and 2020, said the state government, under the leadership of the first defendant as governor and the second defendant as finance commissioner, requested UBEC funds for the years 2013 and 2014 to pay teachers’ salaries.

“The then commissioner for finance, Ademola Banu, who is the second defendant in this case, initially made an oral request for the release of the 2013 UBEC Matching Grant to pay teachers’ salaries,” he narrated.

“However, we insisted that such a request must be made in writing. Subsequently, the commissioner sent a letter conveying his excellency’s approval for the release of the funds.

“As a result, the money was deposited into the state government’s account domiciled with Skye Bank Plc.”

Dasuki further explained that SUBEB initially opposed the request because they knew it would affect ongoing projects.

However, they eventually approved the release after receiving assurances from Banu that the funds would be repaid once the state received its allocation from Abuja.

“A letter was written to that effect from the office of the Commissioner for Finance, signed on his behalf, and the money was released immediately upon receiving the letter,” he said.

Despite the assurances, Dasuki stated that the money was never repaid.

“According to the 2013 action plan submitted to UBEC, the funds were intended for the construction of 40 standard classroom blocks with offices, 40 VIP toilets, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centres in primary and junior secondary schools across the 16 Local Government Areas of Kwara State,” he added.

“However, many of these projects could not be executed because the funds had been diverted.”

He further testified that many contractors protested due to non-payment for completed projects.

During cross-examination by Jimoh Mumini, counsel to the first defendant, Dasuki confirmed that neither the former governor nor the finance commissioner was a member of SUBEB.

Mahmud Abdulgafar, presiding judge, adjourned the matter till Thursday, March 13, 2025.