- Safiu Kehinde
The Kwara State High Court has adjourned the proceedings in the ongoing trial of former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed.
Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar, the presiding judge, had on Wednesday adjourned the trial of Ahmed and his Finance Commissioner, Ademola Banu, to July 27, 2026, for the continuation of the cross-examination of the sixth prosecution witness, Stanley Ujilibo.
This was made known in a statement issued by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Recall that Ahmed and Banu are being prosecuted by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC over the alleged diversion of N5.78 billion belonging to the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
The adjournment of the trial, according to the statement, followed an oral application by counsel to the second defendant, Ibn Mahmud, who informed the court that the lead defence counsel, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN) was indisposed.
Meanwhile, Ujilibo had at Wednesday’s hearing testified that Ahmed approved a request to obtain a N1 billion loan from the state’s SUBEB counterpart fund to pay workers’ salaries.
He explained that the approval followed a request by the Commissioner of Finance (Banu), which was contrary to the statutory purpose for which the SUBEB funds were designated.
During cross-examination, Ujilibo, an Assistant Commander of the EFCC, told the court that the SUBEB operated under its own governing board and that neither Ahmed nor Banu was a member.
According to the witness, the former governor was responsible for appointing the SUBEB chairman and other principal officers of the board but did not serve as a board member.
“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 said.
Ujilibo also disclosed that investigations did not extend to the former governor’s personal bank accounts because the petition before the Commission did not link the allegedly diverted funds to any of his personal accounts.
He added that none of the accounting officers of the SUBEB is currently facing trial in connection with the case.
Midway into the proceedings, counsel to the first defendant, Abdulrasaq Gold (SAN) sought an adjournment to enable him obtain copies of the statement made by Ahmed to the EFCC in Abuja, as well as his asset declaration forms, for the purpose of further cross-examination of the witness.