The trial of former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, over an alleged N5.78bn diversion of Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC) funds has been adjourned to July 27, 2026, for continuation of cross-examination.
Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, made the adjournment on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, following proceedings in the case filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission.
Ahmed and his former Finance Commissioner, Ademola Banu, are standing trial over alleged mismanagement of State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) counterpart funds.
The adjournment followed an oral application by defence counsel Ibn Mahmud, who told the court that lead counsel Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, was indisposed.
During proceedings, the sixth prosecution witness, Stanley Ujilibo, an EFCC investigator, testified that the former governor approved a request to obtain a N1bn loan from SUBEB counterpart funds to pay workers’ salaries, a move he said contradicted the statutory purpose of the funds.
Ujilibo added that SUBEB operates under its own governing board and that neither Ahmed nor Banu were board members, though the governor had authority to appoint key officials.
He further stated: “The former governor gave approval for a request to secure a N1 billion loan from the state’s SUBEB counterpart fund for the payment of workers’ salaries.”
The witness also told the court that investigations did not extend to the former governor’s personal bank accounts, as the petition did not link the allegedly diverted funds to them. He added that no SUBEB accounting officers are currently standing trial in the matter.
Midway through proceedings, defence counsel Abdulrasaq Gold, SAN, requested adjournment to obtain Ahmed’s statement to the EFCC and asset declaration forms for further cross-examination.
However, EFCC counsel Adebisi Adeniyi opposed the application, arguing that the defence had ample time to request the documents since the trial began in 2024.
In his ruling, Justice Abdulgafar declined the application but allowed the defence to recall the witness after obtaining the documents. The matter was then adjourned to July 27, 2026.
