Alleged ₦5.78bn SUBEB fraud: Witnesses’ absence stalls Ahmed, Banu’s trial

Alleged ₦5.78bn SUBEB fraud: Witnesses’ absence stalls Ahmed, Banu’s trialThe trial of former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his former Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, over the alleged diversion of ₦5.78 billion in State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) funds was adjourned on Monday after two prosecution witnesses failed to appear before the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin.

 

Ahmed and Banu are facing prosecution over allegations that the SUBEB funds were diverted for the payment of salaries of Kwara State civil servants.

 

At Monday’s proceedings, the prosecution concluded the cross-examination of its witness, Stanley Ujilibo, whose testimony had commenced at the previous sitting.

 

Following the witness’s testimony, prosecution counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, informed the court that the next two witnesses were unavoidably absent and requested an adjournment, assuring the court they would be available at the next hearing.

 

During cross-examination by Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), counsel to the first defendant, Ujilibo said he could not confirm whether Ayoola Idowu, the civil servant who petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over the alleged diversion, benefited from the funds through salary payments.

 

Ajibade had asked whether Idowu, as a civil servant, was among those paid from the allegedly diverted SUBEB funds.

 

Under cross-examination by Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), counsel to the second defendant, Banu, the witness also admitted he could not identify any document showing that Banu, as Commissioner for Finance, requested to borrow money from the SUBEB fund.

 

After reviewing the exhibits before the court, Ujilibo identified a letter written by Banu to the former governor requesting the payment of the state’s counterpart contribution to the SUBEB fund.

 

When the defence pointed out that the letter related to the payment of counterpart funding and not borrowing, the witness referred to another document discussing borrowing, but acknowledged that it was signed by another official and not Banu.

 

The defence did not oppose the prosecution’s request for an adjournment.

 

Justice Abdulgafar Mahmoud subsequently adjourned the case until November 9, 2026, for continuation of trial.