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.

Islamiya Abdulraheem     AbdulGaniyu Kareem     Ahmad Fatima Bisola     Rachael Obisesan     Deji Ajani     Kale Bayero     Aminat Ahmed     Kehinde Boyede     ER-KANG Mining     Ahmad Olayiwola Kamaldeen     Sabi     KWASEIC     Bayer AG     Saadu Alanamu     Temi Kolawole     Akom Construction And Engineering Synergy Ltd     National Information Technology Development Agency     Afolayan     Mary Kemi Adeosun     Abdulmajeed Wahab     Abdulquawiy Olododo     HYPPADEC     Tafida     Sayomi     Illyasu Abdullahi     Curfew     Yusuf Babatunde Abdulwahab     Prince Bola Ajibola     IEDPU     Temitope Ogunbanke     Adebayo Salami     Abdulwahab Olarewaju Issa     Kwabes     Ilesha Gwanara Road     Veterinary Teaching Hospital     Aliyu Sabi     Saka Saadu     Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa     Tayo Alao     College Of Education     Solomon Edoja     Abdulraufu Mustapha     Ijagbo Health Centre     Sam Onile     Sheu Ndanusa Usman     KWIRS     Lithium     Modibbo Kawu     Oke-Oyi     Baba Issa Awoye     Alabi Olayemi Abdulrazak     Hussein Olokooba     Olusola Saraki     Oba Mogaji Abdulkadir     Baakini     Oke-opin     Yahaya Seriki Gambari     AbdulRauf Keji     Omupo     Cassava Growers\' Association     Ajia-Bako     Kazeem Oladepo     Offorjama     Sulyman Atolagbe Alege     Lawal Arinola Kudirat     Oba Abdulraheem     Junior Secondary School Certificate Examinations     Sherif Shagaya     Ali Ahmad     Local Government     Opobiyi     Makama     PharmAccess Foundation     Facebook     Sambo Murtala     Olatunde Michaels     Isa Aremu    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Arandun     Ahmed Idris Mohammed     Olatunde Jare     Ilorin     Jumoke Gafar     LEAH Charity Foundation     YAKOOYO     Salman Alada     Ogidi-Oloje     Ahmed Alhasssan     Aisha Ahman-Pategi     Moronfoye     Ibrahim Kayode Adeyemi     Rasaq Jimoh     Council Of The Wise     Suleiman Idris     Standard Organization Of Nigeria     KWSUED     Patigi Regatta     Jimoh Lambe Abdulkareem     Ganmo Power Sub-Station     Adolescent Girls Initiative For Learning And Empowerment     Abdulrazaq Aiyelabegan     Abdulsalam Firdaous Amosa     Haliru Dantoro     Tunde Yusuf     Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa     Lithium     Shuaibu Yaman     Curfew     Soffiyyallah Kamaldeen     Olota Of Odo-Owa     Government High School (GHS), Adeta     Olatomiwa Williams     Michael Nzwekwe     Mohammed Saidu     Olushola Saraki     Isin     Ishola Abdullahi     Funmilayo Braithwaite     Tunji Folami     Isa Aremu     Ado Ibrahim     Sa\'adu Gambari     Solomon Edojah     Emir Of Kano     Suleiman Abubakar     Ilorin West     Pacify Labs     Ojuekun Sarumi     Obasanjo     Oluwole Dupe     Esuwoye     Florence Saraki     Quran     UITH     Ashiru     Aliyu Muyideen     Kayode Alabi     Olokoba Abdullahi Ayinla     Kwara Volleyball Association     Muhammed Abdullahi     LABTOP     Abdullahi Samari     Tosin Saraki     Umaru Saro     Akom Construction And Engineering Synergy Ltd     Elewu     Student Learning Support Helpline     Chief Imam Of Lafiagi     Funmi Salau     Shehu Salau     Kwara State Fish Farmers Association     PharmAccess Foundation     Titus Ashaolu     Toun Okewale-Sonaiya     First Lady