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.
Bature Bello Michael Nzwekwe Radio SBS Vasolar Joseph Daudu Olatunde Oyeyiola Hakeem Idris Abdulmumini Sanni Jawondo Kwara State Council Of Chiefs Odo-Owa Olabanji Orilonishe Amos Justus Sayo Olusin Of Ijara Isin Kisra AbdulRauf Keji Iyeru Grammar School Maimunat Oloriegbe Amusa Bello Saduki Lafiagi Kwara State Internal Revenue Service Yakubu Gobir Bukola Saraki A.E. Afolabi Majlis For Sadakah, Zakat And Waqf Atiku Abubakar Salihu Ajibola Ajia Olokoba Prince Mahe Abdulkadir Abdulrahman Abdulrasak Alikinla Maigida Mukhtar Shagaya Dumagi Michael Imoudu National Institute For Labour Studies KWSIEC Sarakite Agboola Babatunde Magaji Erubu Alfa Modibo Belgore KWASIEC Abdulraheem Yusuf Olatunde Jare Aisha Ahman Pategi Modupe Oluwole Isiaka Rafiu Mope Hausa Zulu Gambari Magaji Are Issa Oloruntogun Saka Saadu Wahab Kunle Shittu Femi Oladiji Centre For Community Empowerment And Poverty Eradication Abdulrahman Abdullahi Kayode Abdullahi Saadudeen Alikinla Kumbi Titilope Muyideen Ajani Bello Kwara Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board Quareeb Ayobami Akanbi Usman Alkali Baba Volunteers Of Ilorin Community And The Emirate Mansurat Amuda-Kannike Rex Olawoye Mumini Ishola Hanafi Patigi Regatta Tanke Road Congress For National Consensus Laolu Saraki Seed Technologies Prince Sunday Fagbemi SAPZ Project Sobi Hill Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf Yusuf Olaolu Ali Abdulrahman Abdulrazak Association Of Kwara State Online Media Practitioners

