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.
CCB Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf Abdulwaheed Musa Suleiman Ajadi Abubakar Atiku Abdullahi Adisa Akodudu Gbajabiamila Ubandawaki Olosi Of Osi Adamu Ibrahim Sabi Olatunji Moronfoye CCT Rice Farmers Association Of Nigeria Balogun Fulani Bilikisu Oniyangi Read With Me Folashade Omoniyi Islamic Development Bank Sadiq Buhari Sheikh Hamzat Yusuf Ariyibi Voices Of Tomorrow Kwara Polytechnic Nurudeen Muhammed Okasanmi Ajayi Amos Sayo Arinola Lawal Metro Park Olaitan Adefila Presidential Election Kumbi Titiloye Ganiyu Taofiq Opolo Global Innovation Limited Ahmad Ali T And K FOODS Aishat Mohammed Lawal Patience Jonathan Haruna Tambiri Mohammed Nigeria Customs Service Alaiye Abdulrosheed Okiki 08001000100 AbdulGafar Tosho Idowu Aremu Egbejila Asiwaju Bola Tinubu Ilorin Anchor Men And Women Yemi Sanni Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa Idi-Ape Khairat Gwadabe Earlyon Technologies Ayeyemi Sulaiman Segun Ogunsola Hassan A. Saliu Guber Aspirant Saba Mamman Daniel Raji Ayodele Kamaldeen John Kehinde Salako Sabitiyu Grillo Gaa Olobi Abdulsalam Firdaous Amosa Saliu Mustapha Olusola Saraki Mohammed Haruna Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants Ishola Moses Abiodun Khadijat Ayoola Yusuf MINILS Joseph Offorjama Plat Technologies Saba Jibril Owode Market Taiwo Joseph Abdullahi Saadudeen Alikinla Muhammed Akanbi Apaola Olayinka Olaogun

