The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) witness, Mr. Abubakar Hassan, testifying in the trial of the former governor of Kwara state, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed and his former Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Demola Banu, has exonerated the duo from the alleged diversion of the State’s Universal Basic Education (SUBEB) fund.
Mr. Hassan, assistant director Finance, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Abuja, stated that, “The duo are not signatories to the account of SUBEB and cannot be allegedly liable for the missing of the fund.”
The Ilorin zonal directorate of the EFCC had dragged the duo before a Kwara State High Court for alleged misappropriation of UBEC’s matching grants of N5.78 billion between 2013 and 2019.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
But at the resumed hearing of the case, Tuesday, EFCC witness, Mr. Hassan told the court during cross-examination that, “SUBEB is an autonomous agency, with a separate board having executive chairman as its head.”
Counsels to the former governor and ex-commissioner, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) and Gboyega Oyewole (SAN) cross-examined the witness, respectively.
The EFCC witness said: “States SUBEB have distinct and separate account from the state governments. The governor is not allowed to be a member of SUBEB board.
“Ex-governor Ahmed was not a member of SUBEB. Neither was he a signatory to the account. UBEC usually pays matching grants to states SUBEB accounts.”
Hassan added that, “UBEC receives education action plan from states and approves same to the board. SUBEB is an independent agency under the UBEC Act. SUBEB payment is not for the state government.
“It is the duty of SUBEB to receive grants and disburse same in its own according to the law.”
The witness also revealed that through letter to SUBEB’s banks, it eventually retrieved its matching grants of over N1.8 billion meant for 2013 and 2014 for illegal withdrawal and refusal of the board to pay its counterpart funds.
During Monday’s hearing, Hassan, while being led in evidence by counsel to the EFCC, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) testified that a total of 51 projects approved under the 2013 action plan were abandoned due to a lack of funds.
The presiding Judge Mahmud thereafter adjourned the case to March 12 and 13 for continuation of the trial.
