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.
Abdullahi Samari ER-KANG Mining Nigeria Company Limited Oloyede Trader Moni Hamidat Sulyman-Yusuf Apaola David Oyepinola Adedumoye Abdulmumini AbdulRazaq Simon Sayomi Abdulkadir Remi Hawawu Olawuyi Government House Egbewole Jide Ashonibare Moshood Bakare Razaq Atunwa Ella Supreme Tissue Paper IFK AGILE Programme Fatimat Saliu Kunbi Titiloye Ilorin West Amusa Bello Amuda Bembe Sulu Babaita Isiaka Lafia Aliyu Korasabi KSIRS Saheed Alakoso Ubandoma Of Ilorin Jare Olatundun Tunde Idiagbon Road Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi Bisi Oyeleke Yunus Lawal Ayoade Akinnibosun Bolaji Abdullahi Kwara Owo Arugbo Allocation Yusuf Lawal Abdulsalam A. Yusuf Albert Ogunsola Ibrahim Bio Gbajabiamila Michael Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies Ayobami Seriki Twitter Ndakene Funmilayo Mohammed Olayinka Oladapo Jogunola College Of Health Kubra Kazum Kwara State Internal Revenue Service Yusuf Amuda Abubakar Bankole Omisore Abubakar Suleiman AbdulHakeem Ajibola Akanbi Bayer Nigeria Limited SDP Aminat Omodara Afolayan Iyabo Adewuyi Danladi Yeketi Yoruba Coronavirus Makama Of Ilorin Abubakar Baba Academic Staff Union Of Universities United Nigeria Congress Party Olatunji Bamgbola Jimba Babatunde Kwara Apc Kawu All Confederation Of Principals Of Secondary Schools Dan Masanin Vasolar Consortium

