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.

Ilorin West     Nnazua     EndSARS     Adebayo Mohammed Kamaldeen     Imam Gambari     Kwara Teaching Service Commission     Medview Airlines     Funke Adedoyin     Abikan     Yetunde Balogun     Olatunji Abdulmumeen     Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf     Radio SBS     Ishak Mohammed Sabi     SSUCOEN     Tayo Alao     Sabitiyu Grillo     Muhammad Mustapha Suleiman     Agbarere     Lithium Deposit     Olaitan Buraimoh     Salary     Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh     Folorunsho Erubu     NIPOGA     Donatus Ejidike     Tafida     Sabo-Oke     NSCIA     KWATMA     Maryam A. Garuba     Kola Ologbondiyan     Ekiti     Issa Baba     Opaleke Bukola Iyabo     Dan-Kazeem     Adolescent Girls Initiative For Learning And Empowerment     Christopher Ayeni     Oba David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Joseph Yemi Ajayi     Aliyu Adebayo     Ilorin Emirate Stakeholders Forum     Tescom.kwarastate.gov.ng     Niyi Ogundiran     Kwabes     Computer Based Test     Oko-Erin     Durbar Festival     Ilorin Innovation Hub     Muslim Stakeholders Of Kwara State     Raliat AbdulRazaq     Kayode Yusuf     Justina Oha     Olatunde Jare     Oluronke Adeyemi     Nupe     Oloriegbe     Shehu Adaramaja     Rabiu Kwankwaso     Bukola Ajikobi     Alaaya     Kassim Babamale     Senior Ibrahim Suleiman     Olam Food Ingredients     Belgore     Saidu Yaro Musa     Binta Abubakar Mora     Olomu Of Omu-Aran     Idofin     Bisi Oyeleke     Ilorin Central Mosque     Anilelerin     Kwara State Health Insurance Agency     Sulyman Buhari     Islamic Development Bank     Amosa     Kwara State Sports Commission    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Saka Balikis Kehinde     Kwara Teaching Service Commission     Peculiar Allowance     Orisa Bridge     Sunday Otokiti     NULGE     Saad Omo\'ya     Afolabi-Oshatimehin     Post Utme     Radio SBS     Kwara Hotel     Photo News     Prince Mahe Abdulkadir     Olosi Of Osi     Shade Omoniyi     Abdullahi G. Mohammad     ITP     Baba Issa     Abdulsalam Firdaous Amosa     Oko Erin     Saheed Alakoso     KWIRS     Amos Justus Sayo     Theophilus Oyebiyi     Patience Jonathan     Abubakar Abdulraheem     Abdulwaheed Musa     Mohammed Abduraheem     Senate Presidency     Abubakar Usman Jos     Iponrin     Adamu B. Yaqubu     Ayekale     Kolawole Bashirat     Alfa Modibbo Belgore     Plat Technologies Limited     Salihu S. Yaru     Ilorin Emirate Staff Association     Marafan Shonga     Jare Olatundun     3MTT     Lateef Alagbonsi     Bashir Badawi     Sarkin Malamai     Folashade Omoniyi     Alore     Haruna Tambiri Mohammed     Iyabo Adewuyi     Oniwa     HAMFAT Clinic And Maternity     Muyideen Ajani Bello     AbdulRahman Saad     Wahab Abayawo     Okin Biscuits     Nigerian Army     Saka Onimago     Ogbondoroko     Rafiu Ajakaye     Segun Olawoyin     Admiralty Villa     Saadatu Modibbo-Kawu     Tope Daramola     Ahmed Shuaib Buranga     Olupako Of Share     Abdulkadri Ahmad Alaiye     Razaq Ayobami Akanbi     Ladi Hassan     Prince Sunday Fagbemi     Owu Fall     Yahaya Oloriegbe     Shehu Adaramaja     Freshvine Nigeria Limited     Moses Adekanye     Mohammed Tunde-Jimoh     Www.Kwarareports.com     Share     TIC