RismadarVoice Reporters
February 17, 2026
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 before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, with fresh revelations from an EFCC witness.
Testifying as the sixth prosecution witness, Stanley Ujilibo, an investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), told the court that UBEC funds released to the Kwara State Government for 2013, 2014, and 2015 were not utilized according to 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 allegations that part of the ₦5.78 billion UBEC funds was diverted from its intended purpose.
Led in evidence by Adebisi Adeniyi, the witness explained that SUBEB had prepared detailed action plans for various educational projects across the state. These plans were meant to leverage federal matching grants from UBEC for the benefit of primary and junior secondary school pupils.
Ujilibo told the court:
“My Lord, a team from SUBEB, including the Chairman, Director of Finance and Accounts, Project Manager, and top management officials, went to Abuja to defend the action plans for 2013, 2014, and 2015, highlighting the deplorable state of Kwara State’s primary and junior secondary schools across the 16 Local Government Areas.”
However, investigations revealed that the UBEC funds were moved from the matching grant accounts into the Kwara State Government’s central account in a commercial bank. While a portion of the money was spent on projects such as the reconstruction of Omosebi Bridge, Coca-Cola Road Bridge, Michael Imodu/Afon Junction Road, Lafiaji Township Road, and rehabilitation of Ilorin’s water supply network, these projects had no direct link to basic education.
Ujilibo further disclosed that ₦952,297,227.30 of the 2014 UBEC allocation was used for loan repayment, and that a request allegedly signed by Banu sought approval to obtain a ₦1 billion loan from SUBEB counterpart funds to augment workers’ salaries.
The witness concluded that the funds meant to improve infrastructure and learning conditions in primary and junior secondary schools were ultimately used for purposes outside their statutory mandate, providing no direct benefit to pupils.
Following the prosecution’s examination-in-chief, Justice Abdulgafar adjourned the matter to April 20, 2026, for the cross-examination of the witness.
