KWSUBEB Fund: Defendants, Prosecutors, Others To Return To Court Tomorrow As Witness Says Former Gov Ahmed, Banu Can’t Be ‘Criminated’   

A prosecution witness, Dr. Musa Dasuki on Wednesday submitted that former governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed and former Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Demola Banu cannot be censured in respect of the alleged diversion of SUBEB funds on their watch given that they were never signatories to the bank account of the agency.

Dr. Musa Dasuki added that the funds borrowed from SUBEB were not paid into the personal bank accounts of the former governor or his finance commissioner but rather the bank accounts belonging to the state government.

The matching grants between 2013 and 2016, he noted, were used for the payment of salary to workers in the state.

Recall that a prosecution witness, Mr. Abubakar Hassan had also maintained this position during one of the court sessions last month.

Recall also that the former governor and Hon Demola Banu, who served as Commissioner for Finance during his administration, were among other things accused of conspiring to convert to personal use, funds meant for the payment of salary to teachers under the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, UBEC, as well as the funds meant for enhancing security of lives and property and provision of infrastructure projects  for the people of the state.

Recall also that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) , had in February last year filed charges against the former governor and the former Commissioner for Finance over offences bordering on alleged fraud.

A definitive decision had not been taken on this at the Federal High Court, Ilorin before the anti-graft agency discontinued the case and got them re-arraigned in October last year while opting for the state High Court.

Alhaji Ahmed and Hon Banu had however pleaded not guilty to charges contained in the charging document while Justice Mahmood Abdulgafar, who presided over the court session, later set the former governor’s bail at N 100 million ditto the former commissioner while adding that one of their sureties must also be a serving or retired Permanent Secretary.

Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the former governor and Hon Banu returned to court on Wednesday, March 12, 2025 ,  with  Dr. Dasuki, a retired Permanent Secretary, KWSUBEB, confirming that the Kwara State government duly paid its 50 percent counterpart funds to SUBEB between 2013 and 2016.

‘The state paid over one billion Naira in 2013, N952 million in 2014, N869 million in 2015, and N973 million in 2016 as its matching grants into the designated Skye Bank account’ he said.

Dr. Dasuki, who is also a party to the case, admitted that the state government requested the withdrawal of funds from the SUBEB account as a loan to pay salary to the workers.

During cross-examination by  the defense counsel Jimoh Mumuni (SAN), Dr. Dasuki reiterated that  Alhaji Ahmed and Mr. Banu were neither signatories to the SUBEB bank account nor members of the board.

‘The loan was not granted to the then governor or his finance commissioner. Though, to the best of my knowledge, it was not repaid, the funds were primarily used to pay  salary to the workers’ he said.

He further explained that the SUBEB board which he was a member as Permanent Secretary and accounting officer, was responsible for financial decisions, and neither Ahmed nor Banu could have served as board members legally.

Earlier, when questioned by EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, the retired Permanent Secretary admitted that the short-term loans granted to the state government affected the execution of planned SUBEB projects, which were meant to provide infrastructure for primary and junior secondary schools in the state.

‘When the state government requested a N1 billion loan to pay salaries, we initially resisted. However, after receiving assurances of repayment from statutory allocations from FAAC, we agreed. The then SUBEB Chairman, Mr. Lanre Daibu, demanded a formal request in writing. A letter was subsequently issued from the state finance ministry, and the funds were transferred to the state government’s bank account. The same process was applied in subsequent years’ he said.

Dasuki  further stated that in 2016, despite the development of an action plan and the payment of matching grants by both UBEC and the state government, no projects were executed. ‘To the best of my knowledge, there was no communication on how the funds were utilized’ he added.

During cross-examination, former governor Ahmed’s counsel argued that the loans were repaid, but Dr. Dasuki disagreed.

The defendants, prosecutors and all parties to the case are expected to return to court tomorrow, Thursday, March 13, 2025 -Team@orientactualmags.com  Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08035023079, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com.  Thank you