An investigator with the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Stanley Ujilibo, has told the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin that no part of the controversial ₦5.78bn State Universal Basic Education Board fund was directly released to former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.
Ujilibo made the disclosure on Tuesday during the ongoing trial of Ahmed and his former Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Demola Banu, over the alleged diversion of ₦5.78 billion belonging to the Kwara State SUBEB.
The EFCC investigator, who appeared as the sixth prosecution witness, also told the court that neither the former governor nor the Universal Basic Education Commission was a signatory to the Kwara SUBEB account.
While being cross-examined by counsel to the first defendant, Mr Abdulrazaq Gold, SAN, Ujilibo said there was no evidence before the commission showing that the allegedly diverted funds were paid into Ahmed’s personal account.
He further disclosed that the EFCC did not investigate the former governor’s personal bank accounts because the petition before the anti-graft agency did not link the alleged diverted funds to any of Ahmed’s accounts.
According to the witness, the investigation was based on the allegations contained in the petition received by the commission.
Ujilibo, however, told the court that Ahmed approved a request for a ₦1bn loan from the state’s SUBEB counterpart fund to facilitate the payment of workers’ salaries.
The EFCC witness said the request for the loan was made by the second defendant, Banu, who was the Commissioner for Finance at the time.
He noted that although the approval was granted for the payment of salaries, the use of SUBEB counterpart funds for that purpose was contrary to the objective for which the money was meant.
The prosecution witness also told the court that none of the accounting officers of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board was standing trial in the case.
He explained that the accounting officers were listed as witnesses in the matter.
During the proceedings, counsel to the first defendant applied for an adjournment to enable him to obtain a statement allegedly made by Ahmed to the EFCC in Abuja.
Gold also asked for time to obtain the former governor’s asset declaration forms for further cross-examination of the witness.
The application was, however, opposed by counsel to the EFCC, Mr Adebisi Adeniyi, who argued that the defence had enough time to request the documents since the trial began in 2024.
Adeniyi said, “My Lord, we are constrained to oppose this application. The last time this matter came up before your Lordship was on February 16. The defendant has had ample time to obtain any document required for cross-examination.”
Delivering his ruling on the application, Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar declined the request for adjournment.
The judge, however, held that the defence was at liberty to recall the witness for further cross-examination if it considered it necessary.
The matter was thereafter adjourned till July 27 for continuation of trial.
themomentng reports that Ahmed and Banu are being prosecuted by the EFCC over allegations bordering on the diversion of ₦5.78bn meant for the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board.
