EFCC presents more witnesses in N5.78bn fraud trial of ex-Kwara Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Tuesday continued its case against former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his ex-Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, by presenting additional witnesses in the ongoing N5.78 billion fraud trial.

At the resumed hearing before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, the sixth prosecution witness, Suleiman Ishola former Accountant General of Kwara State (2013–2019)—told the court that vouchers used to obtain a N1 billion loan were raised by officials of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

Ishola testified that the loan, secured in 2015 as a matching grant from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), was used to pay civil servants and pensioners. He maintained that neither of the defendants personally authorized the vouchers nor received any direct payment from the funds.

His testimony corroborated earlier statements by former SUBEB chairman, Barr. Lanre Daibu, who confirmed the administration’s formal approval to access the UBEC grant for salary payments.

Following cross-examination by defence counsels J.A. Mumini (SAN) and Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), representing Ahmed and Banu respectively, Ishola was discharged from the witness box.

The EFCC then presented its seventh witness, Stanley Ujilibo, an assistant commander and member of the investigation team. Led in evidence by prosecuting counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Ujilibo detailed the probe that led to the prosecution.

He said the investigation began after a petition dated April 17, 2024, was filed by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Kwara State, Akande Idowu Ayoola, on behalf of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice. The petition alleged diversion of UBEC funds meant for infrastructure development across the state’s 16 local government areas.

Ujilibo testified that the EFCC wrote to UBEC to request relevant records. In response, Hassan Abubakar, an assistant director at UBEC, submitted action plans from the 2013 to 2015 fiscal years, including contractor details and project costs.

He explained that UBEC required states to contribute 50 percent counterpart funding to access grants, and all project proposals had to be defended before disbursement.

According to him, several state officials were invited and gave voluntary statements during the investigation, including Lanre Daibu; SUBEB Director of Physical Planning, Engr. Abdulsalam Olarewaju; former SUBEB Permanent Secretary, Dr. Musa Dasuki; former Accountant General Ishola; and former Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, Benjamin Fatigun.

The EFCC also obtained bank records from Polaris Bank and Guaranty Trust Bank, which managed SUBEB accounts, to trace the flow of funds.

Ujilibo confirmed that both Ahmed and Banu voluntarily provided written statements in the presence of their lawyers without coercion. The court admitted their statements into evidence as exhibits, with no objections from the defence.

The case was adjourned to October 16 and 17, 2025, for further hearing.