Scandal In Kwara: EFCC Witness Alleges Former Governor Ahmed Diverted ₦5 Billion In Education Funds

Scandal In Kwara: EFCC Witness Alleges Former Governor Ahmed Diverted ₦5 Billion In Education Funds

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) resumed the trial of former Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his ex-Finance Commissioner Ademola Banu on Wednesday, addressing allegations of theft and mismanagement of public funds…READ MORE…

A witness, Abubakar Hassan, provided testimony about claims that the defendants engaged in a conspiracy to misappropriate funds intended for teachers’ salaries, which were allocated via the State Universal Basic Education Board.

EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale confirmed that the two were arraigned in October 2024 and entered not guilty pleas to the charges.

According to the statement, “The Matching Grant Funds from the Universal Basic Education Commission are designated for providing infrastructure for primary and junior secondary school students. These facilities include the construction of school buildings, laboratories, toilets, water supply, sanitation, and cultural education.”

The report detailed that Kwara State received approximately ₦2 billion as a Matching Grant in 2013, ₦876 million in 2014, and ₦982 million in 2015, totaling about ₦5 billion. Despite the implementation of the 2013 Action Plan and contractor mobilization, monitoring revealed that around ₦2 billion allocated for the project had been misappropriated by Kwara SUBEB.

Hassan noted that following these findings, a report from the project monitoring committee was submitted to Kwara SUBEB, requesting compliance with its recommendations, but no response was received.

The trial, presided over by Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar, has been adjourned until February 17, 2025.

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