Court Adjourns Abdulfatah Ahmed, Ex-Finance Commissioner’s Trial to July 27

Court Adjourns Abdulfatah Ahmed, Ex-Finance Commissioner’s Trial to July 27

Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High Court, Ilorin, on Wednesday adjourned the trial of former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his former Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, to July 27, 2026, for the continuation of the cross-examination of the sixth prosecution witness, Stanley Ujilibo.

The adjournment followed an oral application by counsel to the second defendant, Ibn Mahmud, who informed the court that lead defence counsel, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), was indisposed and unable to attend the proceedings.

Ahmed and Banu are being prosecuted by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission over the alleged diversion of N5.78 billion belonging to the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

During the proceedings, the prosecution witness, Stanley Ujilibo, an Assistant Commander of the EFCC, told the court that the former governor approved a request to obtain a N1 billion loan from the state’s SUBEB counterpart fund to pay workers’ salaries.

According to the witness, the approval followed a request made by the former Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, despite the statutory purpose for which the SUBEB funds were designated.

Under cross-examination, Ujilibo stated that the SUBEB operated under its own governing board and that neither Ahmed nor Banu was a member of the board.

He explained that while the former governor had the authority to appoint the chairman and principal officers of the board, he did not serve as a board member.

“The former governor gave approval for a request to secure a N1 billion loan from the state’s SUBEB counterpart fund for the payment of workers’ salaries,” the witness told the court.

Ujilibo further disclosed that the EFCC did not investigate the former governor’s personal bank accounts because the petition before the Commission did not allege that the funds in question were transferred into any of his personal accounts.

He also revealed that none of the accounting officers of the SUBEB is currently standing trial in connection with the case.

During the hearing, counsel to the first defendant, Abdulrasaq Gold (SAN), sought an adjournment to enable the defence obtain copies of statements allegedly made by Ahmed to the EFCC in Abuja, as well as his asset declaration forms, for the purpose of further cross-examining the witness.

However, EFCC counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, opposed the request, arguing that the defence had ample opportunity to obtain the documents since the commencement of the trial in 2024.

In his ruling, Justice Abdulgafar declined the application for adjournment but held that the defence could recall the witness for further cross-examination after obtaining the requested documents.

The case was subsequently adjourned until July 27, 2026, for continuation of proceedings.

Court Adjourns Abdulfatah Ahmed, Ex-Finance Commissioner’s Trial to July 27