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.
KWSUED Ita-Nmo Market Lanre Issa-Onilu Olufolake Abdulrazaq Al-Ilory Garuba Alikinla Shittu Pakata Patriots Yusuf Ali Jumoke Monsura Gafar Valsolar Turaki Of Ilorin Logun Ahmed Saidu Rufai UTME Olofa Of Offa AbdulRahman Saad Mike Omotosho AbdulHakeem Ajibola Akanbi Gbemisola Saraki Mufti Of Ilorin The Herald KWIRS Amuda Aluko Ajakaye Abdulrahman Abdulrasak Rex Olawoye Sardauna Of Ilorin Musa Abdullahi Tope Daramola Fatimat Saliu Demola Banu Opolo Global Innovation Limited Sambo Murtala Afolabi-Oshatimehin Osinbajo Offorjama Peculiar Allowance Rashidi Yekini Ella Supreme Tissue Paper Olam Food Ingredients Federal Road Maintenance Agency Magaji Erubu Sulyman Atolagbe Alege Tunji Olawuyi Kwara Consultative Forum Joseph Yemi Ajayi Kwara Poly CCT Abdulmalik Bashir Mopelola Risikatullahi Gbenga Adebayo Kamoru Kadiri Memunat Monsuma Emir Of Lafiagi IHS Towers Gobir Kwara State Health Insurance Agency Ibraheem Adeola Katibi Dar-Al-Handasah Consultants Ltd Olabode George Towoju Col. Taiwo Aiyedun Ayeyemi Sulaiman Abraysports FC Susan Modupe Oluwole Ishaq Salman Dagbalodo Ladi Hassan Kwara State Television (KWTV) Trader Moni Yusuf Mubarak Aishat Sulu-Gambari NIPOGA Muhammad Ghali Alaaya Salaudeen Oyewale Just Event Online Lawyers Unite Against Corruption Oja-Oba

