From Abdul Salaudeen, Ilorin
Two witnesses testified yesterday in the trial of ex-Kwara State governor, AbdulFatah Ahmed and his Finance Commissioner, Demola Banu over alleged diversion of N5.78 billion Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, fund at the State High Court, Ilorin.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, Ilorin Zonal Directorate, charged the two of them before the court, but they pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.
The court was informed that the state paid its counterpart fund otherwise known as marching grants of N952 million and N869 million to the Skye Bank designated account in 2014 and 2015, but the state Universal Basic Basic Education Board, SUBEB, did not award any contract.
The third witness called by the EFCC in the case, Engr Abdulsalam Olanrewaju told the court that UBEC, Abuja approved the 2014 and 2015 action plan presented to it by Kwara State SUBEB, adding that the contractors that handled the 2013 projects were eventually paid their money after they had protested delayed payment.
Counsel to EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs led the third witness and Project Manager of SUBEB between 1998 and 2017, Engr Olanrewaju in evidence before the court.
Engr Olanrewaju said he was in charge of the infrastructural needs of public primary and junior secondary schools in the state.
“UBEC monitoring team from Abuja came to supervise the extent of job done by the contractors in 2013 and they were satisfied. The job done was beyond expectation,” he added.
During cross-examination by the ex-governor’s counsel, Mumuni Jimoh (SAN), Olanrewaju revealed that signatories to SUBEB’s account were the accountant, permanent secretary and executive chairman of the board.
Earlier, the second witness, Dr Musa Dasuki, told the court that “marching grants from UBEC and SUBEB could not be used for any other purpose other than the infrastructural needs of primary and junior secondary schools to ensure that ‘every child counts.”
During cross examination by Banu’s counsel, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), Dr Dasuki said “it is wrong to give the board’s funds as loan to anybody. Marching grants cannot be used for any other purpose. SUBEB is like a parastatal with executive chair, secretary and other permanent members.”
He hinted that no board meeting was done before giving out SUBEB funds to the then Kwara State government between 2013 and 2016.
