The Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has charged six officials from the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board with fraud before the state high court in Ilorin.
The commission made this known, via a post on its official X (formally Twitter) account.
According to the post, the defendants, Ahmed Olarewaju, Omole John, Fatai Oyerinde, Mujeeb Ibrahim, Salami Bashir, and Dauda Quozim, are accused of misappropriating funds totaling N96 million.
They face four counts of breach of trust, relating to their management of SUBEB funds.
One of the charges states that between September and December, 2018, the defendants misappropriated N33, 891, 982.37, while another charge indicates that between January and June 2019, they misappropriated an additional N30, 406, 629.09.
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All sums involved were part of SUBEB funds held at Sterling Bank Plc. The offences committed by the defendants are punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code.
Upon reading the charges, the defendants pleaded not guilty. Following this, the prosecution requested a trial date, and for the defendants to be held in custody at the Nigerian Correctional Centre.
However, defense counsels made oral applications for bail on behalf of their clients, but Justice Akanbi scheduled the trial for April 16, 2025, while ordering the defendants to remain in custody.
