Alleged ₦5.78bn Fraud: EFCC Investigator Clears Ahmed of Direct Fund Receipt

An investigator with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Stanley Ujilibo, has told the Kwara State High Court in Ilorin that no portion of the alleged ₦5.78 billion diverted from the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) fund was directly paid to former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.
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‎Ujilibo, who testified as the sixth prosecution witness, also stated that neither Ahmed nor the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) was a signatory to the KWSUBEB account at the centre of the case.
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‎The former governor and his former Commissioner for Finance, Demola Banu, are facing trial over allegations involving the diversion of more than ₦5 billion belonging to the state’s basic education fund.
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‎During cross-examination by Ahmed’s counsel, Abdulrasaq Gold (SAN), the EFCC investigator said the former governor approved a request for a ₦1 billion loan from the state’s SUBEB counterpart fund to offset workers’ salaries. According to him, the request was initiated by Banu and the use of the funds was outside the original purpose for which the education fund was established.
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‎Ujilibo further told the court that investigators did not examine Ahmed’s personal bank accounts because the petition that prompted the investigation did not connect the alleged diverted funds to the former governor’s private accounts.
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‎He also disclosed that officials responsible for managing SUBEB’s accounts were not standing trial in the matter, explaining that they were being treated as witnesses by the prosecution.
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‎At the hearing, Ahmed’s lawyer sought an adjournment to obtain documents, including his client’s EFCC statement and asset declaration forms, for use in further questioning of the witness. However, the request was opposed by EFCC counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, who argued that the defence had sufficient time to obtain the documents since the trial began in 2024.
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‎Ruling on the application, Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar declined the request but noted that the defence could recall the witness later if necessary.
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‎Following the completion of cross-examination, the court adjourned the matter until July 27, 2027, for the continuation of proceedings.
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