Ex-Kwara Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed Accused Of Misappropriating N5bn UBEC Funds: Witness Testifies
The trial of former Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his former Finance Commissioner, Ademola Banu, for alleged mismanagement of N5.78 billion in public funds resumed on Wednesday, December 4, 2024, before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin.
Ahmed and Banu were accused of conspiring to divert funds allocated for teachers’ salaries under the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC) and for state security and infrastructure. They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on October 21, 2024, and pleaded not guilty, securing bail as the trial commenced.
At Wednesday’s hearing, the EFCC’s first prosecution witness, Abubakar Hassan, Assistant Director of Finance at UBEC, testified that approximately N5 billion intended for primary and junior secondary school projects between 2013 and 2015 was misappropriated under Ahmed’s administration.
Hassan explained that UBEC’s Matching Grant Funds are designated for critical educational infrastructure, including school buildings, laboratories, toilets, and sanitation facilities. He noted that funds for 2013, 2014, and 2015 totaled over N5 billion, comprising N2 billion in 2013, N876 million in 2014, and N982 million in 2015.
According to Hassan, the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) had started implementing the 2013 action plan when a monitoring exercise revealed the diversion of approximately N2 billion. Despite efforts by UBEC to compel SUBEB to address the discrepancies, no response was received. Consequently, UBEC requested banks to return the funds allocated for 2014 and 2015.
He further stated that due to the state’s non-compliance, no grants were released between 2016 and 2018.
Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar adjourned the trial to February 17, 2025, for further proceedings.
