The trial of former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, over the alleged diversion of ₦5.78 billion Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) funds resumed on Monday, February 16, 2026, with fresh revelations before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin.
Testifying as the sixth prosecution witness, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Stanley Ujilibo, told the court that funds released to the Kwara State Government for 2013, 2014, and 2015 were not utilised in line with the action plans submitted by the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
Ahmed and Banu are being prosecuted by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC over the alleged diversion of part of the ₦5.78 billion UBEC funds, contrary to the purpose for which the funds were released.
Led in evidence by Adebisi Adeniyi, the witness, Ujilibo, informed the court that SUBEB had presented detailed action plans outlining various educational projects across the state. With evidence of counterpart funding, the Board sought to persuade the Federal Government, through UBEC, to release the matching grants for the benefit of pupils in primary and junior secondary schools.
Addressing the court, Ujilibo stated: “My Lord, a team of officials from the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), comprising the Chairman, Director of Finance and Accounts, Project Manager, and other top management officials, went to Abuja to defend the action plans for 2013, 2014, and 2015, citing the deplorable state of primary and junior secondary education across the 16 Local Government Areas of the state.”
However, the sixth prosecution witness disclosed that investigations revealed that the funds were moved from the UBEC matching grant accounts into the Kwara State Government’s central account domiciled in a commercial bank.
He added that while a portion of the funds was spent on projects such as the reconstruction of Omosebi Bridge, Coca-Cola Road Bridge, Michael Imodu/Afon Junction Road, Lafiaji Township Road, and the rehabilitation of the Ilorin water supply network, these projects had no direct link to basic education.
He further told the court that the sum of ₦952,297,227.30 (Nine Hundred and Fifty-Two Million, Two Hundred and Ninety-Seven Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty-Seven Naira, Thirty Kobo), being the UBEC fund for 2014, was used for the principal liquidation of a loan.
He added that a request allegedly signed by the second defendant, Banu, sought approval to obtain a ₦1 billion loan from SUBEB counterpart funds to augment workers’ salaries.
According to the witness, the funds meant for improving infrastructure and learning conditions in primary and junior secondary schools were ultimately deployed for purposes outside their statutory mandate and without direct benefit to pupils.
Following the conclusion of the prosecution’s examination-in-chief, Justice Abdulgafar adjourned the matter until April 20, 2026, for the cross-examination of the witness.
