The first prosecution witness in the trial of former Kwara State governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his finance commissioner, Ademola Banu has alleged that the ex-governor diverted funds meant for Universal Basic Education Commission projects for personal use.
Testifying before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar at the State High Court in Ilorin on Monday, February 17, 2025, Abubakar Hassan, an assistant director of finance at the education commission, said many approved school projects under the 2013 Action Plan were abandoned due to lack of funds, despite their approval and allocation.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting the defendants on a 12-count charge bordering on mismanagement and misappropriation of N5.78 billion in public funds.
Hassan stated that the Projects Monitoring Committee discovered that several school projects across the 16 local government areas were either left uncompleted or never executed. In May 2018, a letter was sent to the then-governor, requesting an explanation, but no response was received.
He further disclosed that on January 6, 2015, N1 billion had to be loaned from the 2013 education commission’s matching grant account with Skye Bank to pay staff salaries and pensions.
Addressing the use of 2014 and 2015 counterpart funds, he stated that the state education board illegally withdrew N1.8 billion from funds lodged on February 18, 2016, an act that qualified Kwara to access the Federal Government’s education grants.
He emphasized that state matching grants are strictly meant for approved education projects and should not be borrowed or diverted for other expenses.
Concerned about the fund mismanagement, the education commission invited the state government for explanations, attaching documents showing the lodgement of funds from the commission to the state education board.
Justice Abdulgafar adjourned the case until February 18, 2025, for cross-examination of the witness.
