Ex-Governor Ahmed Failed to Award UBEC Contracts – Third Witness Testifies

Date: 2025-03-14

The Third Prosecution Witness (PW3), Engineer Abdulsalam Olarewaju Sirajudeen, testified in the trial of former Kwara State Governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed and his Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, over alleged fraud. Speaking before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin on Thursday, March 13, 2025, he revealed that Ahmed failed to award contracts for UBEC-funded projects in the state.

These projects were included and approved in the 2013, 2014, and 2015 State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Action Plans after receiving UBEC's approval for implementation, along with matching grants and counterpart funding.

Ahmed and Banu are currently facing prosecution by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an amended 14-count charge related to the alleged theft and mismanagement of ?5.78 billion from UBEC funds allocated to the state.

Led in evidence by prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, the witness—a project manager with Kwara State SUBEB in 2013 who later became Director of Physical Planning in 2017—told the court that each of the action plans was prepared by SUBEB in the state and sent to UBEC, Abuja, for review and approval, which was granted. Furthermore, he disclosed that Ahmed's failure to award the contracts occurred after advertisements had been placed for their award and qualified contractors invited for bidding.

'After approval, an advertisement is placed, inviting qualified contractors to bid. After four weeks, bidding takes place in the presence of all stakeholders, including UBEC representatives. Contractors who won the bids are then mobilised to project sites,' he said. However, he disclosed that in all three action plans, the projects advertised and bid for were never awarded to the successful contractors.

The witness was cross-examined by the defence counsel, led by Jimoh Mumini, and Gboyega Oyewole.

The case was adjourned till 10 and 11 April 2025 for further hearing.

 

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Owo Isowo     Chief Imam Of Omu-Aran     Durosinlohun Atiku     Yusuf Lawal     Abdulrauf Yusuf     Seed Technologies     College Of Health     Sa\'adu Salau     Manzuma     Mashood Abdulrafiu Agboola     Ilorin Curfew     Presidential Election     General Hospital, Offa     Ramat Oganija     Wahab Egbewole     Tafida     Yomi Ogunsola     Saeedat Aliyu     SGBN     Durosinlohun Kawu     John Olobayo     BECE     Flights To Ilorin     Mohammed Saidu     Mustapha Akanbi     Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency     Isiaka Danmeromu     Lanre Badmus     Oloriegbe     New Nigeria People’s Party     Shao     Bond     Charcoal     Olaosebikan     Ebola     ASMAU PLAZA     Isiaka Oniwa     Bola Olukoju     Sango-UITH Road     Ojo Isekuse     Umar Saro     Taiwo Joseph     Surajudeen Akanbi     Sheikh Alimi     Government High School (GHS), Adeta     Shonga     Elewu     Tunde Saad     Wahab Kunle Shittu     Sabo-Oke     Garment Factory     Aliyu Kora Sabi     Ogidi-Oloje     Lanre Jimoh     Neo Mundo Ltd     Ronke Adeyemi     Simeon Sayomi     Amule     Saliu Tunde Bello     Jide Oyinloye     Ayegbeni     Opolo Global Innovation Limited     Iyeru Grammar School     Kwara State Printing And Publishing Corporation     Mary Kemi Adeosun     Jamiu Oyawoye     Fatai Olodo     HICA     Femi Oladiji     Oba Abu     TIIDELab     Ademola Kiyesola     Ayobami Seriki     KWAFFA     Ekweremadu     Imam Gambari     Ramadan    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Mohammed Ibrahim     Ilorin Amusement Park     Salihu S. Yaru     COEASU     Saad Belgore     Durosinlohun Atiku     Hausa     AbdulRasaq Abdulmajeed Alaro     Mohammed Alabi Lawal     Yeketi     Nigeria Computer Society     Funmilayo Oniwa     Centre For Community Empowerment And Poverty Eradication     Lola Olabayo     Omu-aran     IFK     Esinniobiwa Quareeb     Saheed Alakoso     Funke Adedoyin     Muhammed Mahe Abdulkadir     Saheed Akinwumi     Oko     David Oyedepo     Esinrogunjo     General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport     Adamu Attah     Suleiman Mora Omar     Kwara Liberation Group     Share     Gobir Organization Foundation     Okala Baba     Timothy Olatunde Fadipe     Woro     SUBEB     Rotimi Samuel Olujide     Okin Biscuit     Seed Technologies     Alaro     Rotimi Atere     Kwara North     ASUU     Adekunle David Dunmade     Tinubu     Muslim Cementary     Apado     HAMFAT Clinic And Maternity     Owode Market     Kabir Shagaya     Millennium Development Goals     Jimoh Olusola Imam     Trader Moni     Amusa Bello     Ayodele Kuburat Olaosebikan     Mohammed Halidu     Ayobola Ipinlaiye     AbdulRaheem Ahmad Shayi     Fatai Adeniyi Garba     Musa Ayinla Yeketi     Ibrahim Jawondo     AGILE Programme     Ayo Opadokun     Salary     Ariyo     Kolo     Ayegbeni     Opaleke Bukola Iyabo     Kayode Oyin Zubair     Simeon Ajibola     Aliyu Adebayo     Abdullahi G. Mohammad     Tunde Saad     Toyin Abdullahi     Mubarak Oladosu     Iyaloja-General     Dankaka     Sodiya     Segun Abifarin