The legal proceedings against a former Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his ex-Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, have been postponed by the court. The case, involving allegations of misappropriating ₦5.78 billion, will now continue on February 16, 2025.
Key Witness Presents Bank Evidence
When the trial resumed at the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, presided over by Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar, a crucial witness for the prosecution took the stand. Stanley Ujilibo, the sixth prosecution witness (PW6), informed the court about the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission's (EFCC) investigative steps.
Under the guidance of the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Ujilibo stated that the anti-graft agency formally requested the bank statements of the Kwara State Government. "My Lord, we wrote to the then Skye Bank, now known as Polaris Bank, and Guaranty Trust Bank to request the statements of accounts of the Kwara State Government," the witness testified.
He clarified that these letters, dated August 1, 2025, were sent to the managing directors of the financial institutions. Both banks acknowledged receipt and provided the requested documents, which were later presented and accepted as evidence in court.
Alleged Diversion of UBEC Funds
The heart of the EFCC's case revolves around the alleged misuse of funds meant for education. The commission accuses the defendants of illegally approving the use of Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) matching grant funds to pay civil servants' salaries.
According to the prosecution, these funds, which included 50% counterpart funds from the state, were specifically allocated for developing basic infrastructure in primary and junior secondary schools across Kwara's sixteen local government areas.
This allegation was supported by testimony from a previous witness, Suleiman Oluwadare Ishola, the state's Accountant-General from 2013 to 2019. Ishola told the court that the Ahmed administration in 2015 borrowed ₦1 billion from the UBEC matching grant to settle salary and pension arrears.
Legal Hurdle Leads to Adjournment
Ujilibo further testified that the EFCC's investigation was initiated by a petition from the Kwara State Government, leading to correspondence with the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General.
However, the trial hit a procedural snag when the prosecution attempted to submit the responses from these government offices. The defence team, led by Kamaldeen Ajibade, objected, arguing that the documents were not properly highlighted for easy reference in court.
Due to this objection, Justice Abdulgafar decided to adjourn the case. The high-profile fraud trial will therefore recommence on February 16, 2025, for the continuation of the hearing and the possible resolution of the evidence-related issue.
