A Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin on Wednesday, adjourned the ongoing trial of former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his former Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, over the alleged diversion of N5.78 billion Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds until July 27, 2026.
Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar fixed the date for the continuation of the cross-examination of the sixth prosecution witness, Stanley Ujilibo, following an application by counsel to the second defendant, Ibn Mahmud, who informed the court that lead defence counsel, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), was indisposed.
Ahmed and Banu are being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on allegations bordering on the diversion of funds belonging to the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
During proceedings, Ujilibo, an assistant commander with the EFCC, testified that Ahmed approved a request to obtain a N1 billion loan from the state’s SUBEB counterpart fund to pay workers’ salaries.
According to him, the approval followed a request from the then Commissioner for Finance, Banu, despite the statutory restrictions governing the use of the education funds.
Under cross-examination, the witness told the court that SUBEB operated under an independent governing board and that neither Ahmed nor Banu was a member of the board.
He, however, stated that the former governor was responsible for appointing the SUBEB chairman and other key officials.
“The former governor gave approval for a request to secure a N1 billion loan from the state’s SUBEB counterpart fund for the payment of workers’ salaries,” Ujilibo told the court.
The witness further disclosed that investigators did not examine Ahmed’s personal bank accounts because the petition before the commission did not link the allegedly diverted funds to any account belonging to him.
He also revealed that none of the accounting officers of SUBEB was currently standing trial in connection with the matter.
Midway into the proceedings, counsel to the first defendant, Abdulrasaq Gold (SAN), applied for an adjournment to enable the defence obtain copies of Ahmed’s statement to the EFCC in Abuja as well as his asset declaration forms for the purpose of further cross-examining the witness.
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The prosecution counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, opposed the application, arguing that the defence had ample opportunity to seek the documents since the commencement of the trial in 2024.
In a ruling, Justice Abdulgafar declined the request for an adjournment on that ground but held that the defence could recall the witness for further cross-examination after obtaining the documents.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until July 27 for the continuation of proceedings.
