N5.78bn fraud: Trial of ex-Kwara governor continues

By Paul Dada

The trial of  Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, former governor, Kwara State and his finance commissioner, Alhaji Ademola Banu over an  alleged misappropriation ofN5.78 billion, is ongoing.

The trial is before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.

In the matter, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alleges that Ahmed and Banu conspired to divert funds meant for the payment of teachers’ salaries and the provision of basic infrastructure for primary and junior secondary schools in Kwara State.

The funds in question were part of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) grants received by the state government between 2013 and 2015.

Besides the allegation that the EFCC  that Ahmed and Banu diverted approximately N5 billion meant for infrastructure projects in primary and junior secondary schools, a UBEC Projects Monitoring Committee reportedly found that 51 projects approved under the 2013 Action Plan were abandoned due to lack of funds, despite UBEC’s approval and release of funds for their execution.

The trial began on December 4, 2024, before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.

The prosecution presented its first witness, Abubakar Hassan, an assistant director of finance at UBEC, who testified that the Kwara State Government allegedly misappropriated the funds meant for projects at primary and junior secondary schools.

On Monday, the trial was expected to continue with the testimony of Alhaji Suleiman Oluwadare Ishola, former Accountant General of Kwara State, who is one of the prosecution’s key witnesses.