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.
Illyasu Abdullahi Yakubu Danladi Plat Technologies T And K FOODS Babata COEASU SAPZ Project Abdulrosheed Okiki Saheed Akinwumi Bola Magaji Adijat Adebiyi Dan Iya Of Ilorin GRA Ridhwanullah Al-Ilory Gabriel Fashanu Abdullahi Imam Abdullahi Aisha Gobir Irepodun Code Of Conduct Bureau Muftau Akanbi Oke Student Learning Support Helpline Adeleke Ogungbe Orisa Bridge Bolakale Kawu Rex Olawoye Y.A. Abdulkareem Olatunde Oyeyiola Falokun-Oja Ado Ibrahim Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants Ltd Suleiman Rotimi Iliasu Olajumoke Monsura Gafar Ilorin West/Asa Federal Constituency A.G.F Abdulrasaq Balogun Gambari Daud Adeshola Saka Asiat Ayinke Suleiman Abubakar Kwara State Television (KWTV) Lola Olabayo Imam Gambari Post Utme ENetSuD HICA Valsolar-Kwara Company Limited Ajibike Katibi Association Of Kwara State Online Media Practitioners Gambari Alabere Galland Marcias Ilorin South Constituency Earlyon Technologies 11th Galadima Ladi Hassan Azeez Salawu Abdullahi Samari Sheu Ndanusa Usman AIT Ilorin Muhammed Aliyu Emir Of Kano Sidikat Uthman Ajibola Onilu Olokoba Sulyman Valsolar Kwara State Infrastructure Development Fund Odogun Olushola Gabriel Sabi Diagnostic Centre New Naira Notes Abubakar Bature Sulu-Gambari Musa Aibinu Hassan Oyeleke Lotus Bank Kwara Restoration Project Owo Arugbo Ope Saraki Ganmo Electricity Sub-Station

