Ex-Governor Ahmed Failed to Award UBEC Contracts – Third Witness Testifies
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.
Code Of Conduct Bureau Samuel Elizabeth Keatswa Muslim Cementary Nigerian Correctional Service Centre For Community Empowerment And Poverty Eradication Olomu Of Omu-Aran Saliu Tunde Bello Owu Fall Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq Ayinde Oki Amos Sayo Village Alive Development Association Dan-Kazeem Mutawali Kunle Okeowo Forgo Battery Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital KWASIEC Lawal Jimoh Sobi Taofik Abiodun Ahmed Awodun Otoge Lateef Ademola Olatunji Oniwa Saad Omo\'ya Chief Imam Of Offa Busari Toyin Isiaka Haashim Initiative For Community Advancement Ahman Pategi Tunde Yusuf Trader Moni Abubakar Atiku Elewu Imam Gambari Ajasse-Ipo Madawaki Ebola Kwha.gov.ng Folaranmi Aro Olabanji Orilonishe Moshood Mustapha Oloye Bankole Omisore Bamidele Adegoke Adamu Ibrahim Sabi Centre For Peace And Strategic Studies AbdulRahman Saad Suleiman Yahya Alapansapa David Oyedepo Jimoh Akani EFCC Sulyman Tejidini Olufolake Abdulrazaq Onilu Federal Road Maintenance Agency NYSC Elections Ohoro Of Shao Salmon Babatunde Salmon AbdulGaniyu Kareem Yusuf Aiyedun Shehu Jimoh Abubakar Baba Simeon Ajibola Suleiman Mora Omar Ileloke Kwasu CCT Lasiele Alabi Yahaya Kwara State Fire Service Alikinla Abdulkadir Bolakale Sakariyah Esinrogunjo Kehinde Boyede Women For Change And Development Initiative United Nigeria Congress Party

