An investigator with the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Stanley Ujilibo, has told the Kwara State High Court that no portion of the alleged ₦5.78 billion State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) funds was paid directly to former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.
Ujilibo, who appeared before the court on Wednesday as the sixth prosecution witness, made the disclosure while being cross-examined by counsel to the former governor, Abdulrasaq Gold (SAN).
The EFCC is prosecuting Ahmed alongside a former Commissioner for Finance, Demola Banu, over allegations involving the diversion of more than ₦5 billion belonging to the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board.
During the proceedings, the investigator stated that neither Ahmed nor the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) had signatory authority over the KWSUBEB account.
He, however, testified that the former governor approved a request for a ₦1 billion loan to be sourced from the state’s counterpart SUBEB fund for the payment of workers’ salaries.
According to Ujilibo, the request originated from Banu, who sought approval to access the funds to settle salary obligations. He noted that using the money for that purpose was inconsistent with the objectives for which the education intervention funds were established.
The witness further informed the court that the EFCC did not investigate Ahmed’s personal bank accounts because the petition that triggered the investigation did not indicate that the allegedly diverted funds were paid into any personal account belonging to the former governor.
He also revealed that accounting officials of the Kwara State SUBEB were not charged in the case. Instead, they were listed as witnesses in the ongoing trial.
At a point during the cross-examination, counsel to Ahmed requested an adjournment to enable him obtain a statement allegedly made by the former governor at the EFCC headquarters in Abuja, as well as asset declaration documents he had completed, which he intended to use during further questioning of the witness.
The application was opposed by EFCC counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, who argued that the defence had sufficient time to secure the documents since the trial commenced in 2024.
Adeniyi told the court that the matter had previously been adjourned on several occasions and maintained that the defence had ample opportunity to obtain any material needed for cross-examination.
In his ruling, Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar declined the request for an adjournment. However, he clarified that the defence retained the right to recall the witness at a later date if necessary for further questioning.
Following the conclusion of the cross-examination, the court adjourned the case until July 27, 2027, for continuation of proceedings.
