Ex-Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed: Court Adjourns N5.78bn Diversion Trial as Key Witness Fails to Appear

The ongoing trial of former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his former Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, over an alleged diversion of N5.78 billion in State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) funds was stalled on Monday following the absence of a prosecution witness.

The case is being prosecuted by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.

Proceedings had been scheduled for the continuation of the cross-examination of the sixth prosecution witness, an EFCC investigator identified as Stanley Ujilibo. However, the expected witness was reportedly unavailable, resulting in the adjournment of the proceedings.

The EFCC alleges that the funds in question, linked to Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) grants, were diverted from their intended purposes, which included educational infrastructure and other approved programmes.

During earlier proceedings, Ujilibo told the court that no part of the N5.78 billion was directly released to Ahmed. He also testified that neither the former governor nor UBEC was a signatory to the SUBEB account through which the funds were managed.

The former governor and Banu have pleaded not guilty to the charges and have continued to defend themselves against the allegations.

The trial has witnessed testimony from several prosecution witnesses as the EFCC seeks to establish its case concerning the management and alleged diversion of the SUBEB funds.

The court is expected to fix another date for the continuation of proceedings. The latest development further delays the conclusion of the prosecution’s presentation of evidence in the long-running case.