The trial of the former Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his Finance Commissioner, Ademola Banu, concerning the alleged misappropriation of N5.78 billion in public funds, resumed on Wednesday, 11th March 2024, before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar at the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin.
During the hearing, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) presented its second witness, Dr. Oladimeji Dasuki, a retired Permanent Secretary of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), who served from 2011 to 2020. Under the guidance of EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs, SAN, Dasuki testified that the Kwara State Government, led by the first defendant as governor and the second defendant as finance commissioner, had requested funds from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) for the years 2013 and 2014 to cover teachers’ salaries.
Dasuki stated: “The then Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, the second defendant in this case, initially made an oral request for the release of the 2013 UBEC Matching Grant to pay teachers’ salaries. However, we insisted that such a request must be formalised in writing. Subsequently, the commissioner sent a letter conveying the governor’s approval for the release of the funds. As a result, the money was deposited into the state government’s account held with Skye Bank Plc.”
He further explained that SUBEB had initially opposed the request, as it would disrupt ongoing projects. However, they eventually relented after receiving assurances from Banu that the funds would be reimbursed once the state received its allocation from the federal government. “A letter was issued to that effect from the office of the Commissioner for Finance, signed on his behalf, and the funds were released immediately upon receipt of the letter,” Dasuki added.
Despite these assurances, Dasuki confirmed that the funds were never repaid. He noted that, according to the 2013 action plan submitted to UBEC, the funds were intended for the construction of 40 standard classroom blocks with offices, 40 VIP toilets, and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) centres in primary and junior secondary schools across Kwara State’s 16 Local Government Areas. However, many of these projects remained unexecuted due to the diversion of funds.
Dasuki also testified that numerous contractors had protested over non-payment for completed projects. During cross-examination by Jimoh Mumini, SAN, counsel for the first defendant, Dasuki acknowledged that neither the former governor nor the finance commissioner was a member of SUBEB.
Justice Abdulgafar adjourned the case until Thursday, 13th March 2025, for further proceedings.
