Alleged Fraud: Witness Reveals How Ex-Kwara Governor Ahmed Diverted N5 Billion Universal Basic Education Fund
Ahmed and Banu are facing prosecution by the EFCC for allegedly stealing and misappropriating N5.78 billion during Ahmed’s eight-year tenure as governor.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) began the trial of former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his co-defendant on Wednesday.
A prosecution witness recounted how Ahmed and his then finance commissioner, Ademola Banu, allegedly diverted N5 billion in universal basic education funds intended for workers’ and teachers’ salaries, as well as for equipping primary and junior secondary schools in the state.
Abubakar Hassan, an assistant director of finance at the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), testified as the first prosecution witness in the trial before the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin on Wednesday.
Both Ahmed and Banu are facing prosecution by the EFCC for allegedly stealing and misappropriating N5.78 billion during Ahmed’s eight-year tenure as governor. They reportedly pleaded not guilty to the charges during their re-arraignment in October of last year.
The trial commenced with Hassan’s testimony, led by the prosecuting lawyer, Rotimi Jacobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). He explained that the Kwara State Government allegedly misappropriated about N5 billion meant to execute projects at primary and junior secondary schools between 2013 and 2015, while Ahmed was in office.
“The former governor and his finance commissioner were accused of conspiring to steal money intended for the payment of teachers’ salaries working with the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (Kwara SUBEB) and funds meant to provide security and other infrastructural facilities for the people of the state,” stated a Wednesday night release from the EFCC.
State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEBs) receive funds from UBEC based on a matching grant system, where UBEC allocates funds to each state in accordance with its contributions. This system aims to enhance basic education at the state level, meaning that a state that fails to contribute will not be able to access UBEC allocations.
Hassan explained that the Matching Grant Funds from UBEC are intended for various infrastructural improvements, including the construction of school buildings, laboratories for junior secondary students, toilets, water supply and sanitation, as well as cultural education in primary and junior secondary schools.
Hassan further testified about UBEC’s internal workings, stating, “UBEC law requires that the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, its Executive Secretary, and the Director of Finance are signatories to the Matching Grants Accounts. These accounts are opened with any commercial bank or the Central Bank of Nigeria.” He noted that the state must prepare action plans (budgets), defend the projects, and obtain approval to access grants from UBEC.
Regarding the implementation plan for 2013, Hassan stated that the Kwara SUBEB had prepared and submitted an action plan, which was approved for various contracts. He confirmed that the commission made lodgments for 2013, 2014, and 2015. Kwara State received a matching grant of about N2 billion for 2013; N876 million for 2014; and approximately N982 million for 2015, totaling around N5 billion.
He added that the implementation of the 2013 action plan began, but during a project monitoring exercise, it was discovered that approximately N2 billion intended for the projects had been diverted by the Kwara SUBEB. After this discovery, a report was sent to the Kwara SUBEB recommending actions to resolve the issue, but there was no response.
Subsequently, UBEC wrote to the banks, requesting the return of the matching funds from 2014 and 2015 that had been paid to the state. Hassan indicated that there were no activities in 2016, 2017, and 2018 due to the state’s failure to comply with UBEC’s previous recommendations regarding the diverted funds.
The judge has adjourned further hearings in the case until February 17, 2025.
