An eyewitness in the ongoing trial of the immediate past governor of Kwara State, Mallam Abdulfatah Ahmed, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has led the media and Nigerians into how the accused allegedly misappropriated N5 billion belonging to the state’s Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

This was disclosed yesterday at the trial of Ahmed and his Finance Commissioner, Ademola Banu, over the alleged stealing and mismanagement of public funds to the tune of N5.78 billion.

Standing before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar of the Kwara State High sitting in Ilorin, the erstwhile governor and his co-defendant were among others, accused of conspiring to steal money meant for payment of salaries of the teaching staff of the SUBEB, Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), and the money meant to provide security and infrastructural facilities for the state.

Though the duo pleaded not guilty, they were however admitted to bail, while the case was adjourned for trial.

At the resumed hearing yesterday, the EFCC presented its first Principal Witness (PW1,) Abubakar Hassan, an Assistant Director of Finance, UBEC, led in evidence by counsel to the anti-graft agency, Rotimi Jacobs.

Hassan told the court that Ahmed’s administration misappropriated some N5 billion meant to execute projects at primary and junior secondary schools between 2013 and 2015.

He stated that the responsibility of spending UBEC grants rested solely on SUBEB, while the state governor or anyone outside SUBEB has no dealing, directly or indirectly, in spending the fund.

Further hearing in the case has been adjourned till February 17, 2025.