The 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 on Monday adjourned after key prosecution witnesses failed to appear in court.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is prosecuting the duo before the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin on allegations bordering on the diversion of SUBEB funds meant for educational infrastructure to the payment of civil servants’ salaries. Both defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
At the resumed hearing, the prosecution concluded the cross-examination of its witness, Stanley Ujilibo, an EFCC investigator, before informing the court that its next witnesses were unavoidably absent and requested an adjournment. The request was not opposed by counsel to the defendants.
During cross-examination, Ujilibo told the court that he could not confirm whether the petitioner who reported the alleged diversion benefited from the salary payments made from the disputed funds. He also admitted that he could not identify any document showing that Banu personally requested the loan allegedly obtained from the SUBEB account.
The witness, however, pointed to a letter written by the former finance commissioner requesting the state government to pay its counterpart contribution to SUBEB, noting that another document relating to borrowing from the fund was signed by a different official.
Following the prosecution’s application, Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar adjourned the case to November 9, 2026, for the continuation of hearing.
