A witness for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has informed the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin that Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) contracts were allegedly not awarded to contractors during the tenure of former Kwara State Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed.
The revelation was made by Engineer Abdulsalam Olarewaju Sirajudeen, the EFCC’s third witness, during the ongoing trial concerning the alleged mismanagement of N5.78 billion in UBEC funds by Ahmed and the state’s former Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu.
The case stems from accusations that Ahmed and Banu conspired to misappropriate funds intended for the payment of teachers’ salaries through the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), as well as funds allocated for security and infrastructure development in the state. Both individuals were arraigned before the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the EFCC on October 21, 2024, and have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
While testifying in court, Sirajudeen, who served as a project manager with SUBEB and later as the Director of Physical Planning in 2017, explained the procedures for executing projects in primary and junior secondary schools using UBEC’s matching grants and counterpart funds.
He outlined that these procedures involved assessing school needs across Kwara’s 16 local government areas, conducting surveys, and submitting reports to UBEC for approval and funding.
Sirajudeen further detailed that once an action plan was prepared and approved by UBEC, an advertisement would be placed to invite qualified contractors to bid.
After four weeks, a bidding process would be held, with all stakeholders, including UBEC representatives, present. The winning contractors would then be mobilised to project sites.
However, Sirajudeen revealed that while contractors were invited to bid for projects for 2013, 2014, and 2015, the contracts were never awarded to any contractors.
During cross-examination, defence counsel for the accused, led by Jimoh Mumini and Gboyega Oyewole, questioned Sirajudeen.
He confirmed that neither Ahmed nor Banu were signatories to SUBEB’s accounts, although SUBEB fell under the purview of the state government.
The court proceedings have been adjourned to April 10 and 11, 2025, for further hearings.
