The Kwara State High Court sitting in Ilorin has adjourned the trial of former Governor of Kwara State, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his former Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, to July 27, 2026, for the continuation of the cross-examination of a key prosecution witness in the alleged N5.78 billion SUBEB fraud case.
According to an official signed statement by the Head, Media and Publicity of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Dele Oyewale, Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar fixed the new date following an oral application by counsel to the second defendant, Ibn Mahmud, who informed the court that lead defence counsel, Gboyega Oyewole, SAN, was indisposed.
Ahmed and Banu are being prosecuted by the EFCC’s Ilorin Zonal Directorate over allegations bordering on the diversion of N5.78 billion belonging to the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).
During proceedings, the sixth prosecution witness, Stanley Ujilibo, an Assistant Commander of the EFCC, testified that the former governor approved a request to obtain a N1 billion loan from the state’s SUBEB counterpart fund for the payment of workers’ salaries. He explained that the approval followed a request by the then Commissioner for Finance, a move he said was inconsistent with the statutory purpose of the education funds.
Under cross-examination, Ujilibo told the court that SUBEB operated independently under its own governing board and that neither Ahmed nor Banu was a member of the board.
The witness, however, noted that the former governor was responsible for appointing the chairman and principal officers of the board, although he did not serve as a board member.
He further disclosed that investigators did not examine Ahmed’s personal bank accounts because the petition that initiated the investigation did not link the allegedly diverted funds to any personal account belonging to the former governor.
Ujilibo also informed the court that none of the accounting officers of SUBEB is currently standing trial in connection with the alleged diversion of funds.
During the proceedings, counsel to the first defendant, Abdulrasaq Gold, SAN, requested an adjournment to enable the defence obtain copies of Ahmed’s statement to the EFCC and his asset declaration forms for the purpose of further cross-examining the witness.
The application was opposed by EFCC counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, who argued that the defence had ample time to seek the documents since the commencement of the trial in 2024.
In his ruling, Justice Abdulgafar declined the request for adjournment on that basis but held that the defence could recall the witness for further cross-examination after obtaining the requested documents.
The judge subsequently adjourned the matter until July 27, 2026, for the continuation of trial.
