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.

Muazam Nayaya     Yusuf Arowosaye     Shoprite     Erin-ile     Aro Yahaya     Lasiele Alabi Yahaya     AbdulGaniyu Kareem     Towobola Abdulrahman Toyin     National Broadcasting Commission     ER-KANG Mining     Al-Ilory     Baruba     Ilorin South Constituency     Abdulganiyu Salahudeen     CCEPE     Michael Ologundea     Dagbalodo     Monthly Sanitation Exercise     Rapheal Ashaolu     Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development     Shuaib Jawondo     Harmony Holdings     Maigidasanma     Abdulfatai Ahmed     Mutawalle     Iyabo Adisa Ibiyeye     Adamu Attah     Ayo Adeyemi     Kwara Central     Oloye     Timothy Olatunde Fadipe     Irepodun     Issa Memunat Moyosore     Ekiti     Yetunde Balogun     Atiku     Yemi Sanni     Kabir Shagaya     Ayo Salami     Taofik Abdulkareem Babaita     Arandun     Risikat Lawal     Katibi Ibraheem Adeola     Ahman Patigi     Alfa Modibo Belgore     Flights To Ilorin     Quranic Recitation Competition     Usman Yunusa     Segun Olawoyin     Okasanmi Ajayi     Esuwoye     Wahab Isa     Colleges Of Education Academic Staff Union     Sobi Hill     Ubandoma Of Ilorin     Kwara Restoration Project     University Road     Durbar Festival     Aisha Gobir     Bankole Omishore     Raliat Islamic Foundation     Joseph Bamigboye     Monthly Sanitation     Victor Gbenga Yusuf     Olabimpe Olani     Okin Malt     ER-KANG     Hassan Oyeleke     Ridwan Agboola     Saadu Yusuf     National Party Of Nigeria     A.G.F Abdulrasaq     CLAY POT     Oke-Kura     Oluranti Idowu     Jimoh Bashir     Abdulrasaq Alaro    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Allocation     Olusegun Adeniyi     Third Estate     Ibrahim Abiodun     Florence Saraki     08001000100     Ayinde Oyepitan     Stephen Fasakin     Share-Tsaragi     Oba Abu     Saidu Yaro Musa     Musa Ayinla Yeketi     Bature Bello     PAACO-PCL Consortium     Modibbo Kawu     Maryam Ado Bayero     Peter Obi     Aliyu Muyideen     Oja-Oba     Afin Descendants Union Of Odo-Owa     Women Radio     Abubakar B.M     Sarakite     Wale Oladepo     Bolaji Nagode     National Broadcasting Commission     Ganiyu Abolarin     Kwara State Government     Olam Food Ingredients     Bursary     Markaz Arabic And Islamic Training Institute, Agege     Isiaka Alikinla     Sabi     Abdulrahman Abdulrazak     Onilorin     Col. Adedipe     Share/Tsaragi     Saliu Shola Taofeek     Ilesha-Baruba-Gwanara     Air Peace     Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence     Borgu     Ilota     Kannike     Esinrogunjo     Yusuf Zulu-Gambari     International Vocational Centre     Yemi Sanni     Odolaye Aremu     Abdulraufu Mustapha     Owo Arugbo     Shao     AGILE Programme     Saraki     Abdulrasheed Akogun     Kwabes     Ibraheem Adeola Katibi     Kwha.gov.ng     Razaq Ayobami Akanbi     ASMAU PLAZA     UNIFEMGA     Risikat Lawal     Sa\'adu Salahu     Kayode Bankole     Dan-Kazeem     Shettima     National Information Technology Development Agency     Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development     Asa LGEA School     Jaigbade Alao     Rebecca Olanrewaju     JSSCE     Hakeem Lawal     GGDSS Pakata     College Of Education     MINILS     Government High School Adeta