The trial of former Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, and his former Commissioner for Finance, Ademola Banu, over the alleged diversion of ₦5.78bn belonging to the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board, was on Monday stalled following the absence of key prosecution witnesses.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission is prosecuting the defendants over allegations that SUBEB funds were diverted to pay the salaries of state civil servants.
At the resumed hearing before Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar, the prosecution counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, informed the court that the commission’s next witnesses were unavoidably absent and sought an adjournment.
The application was not opposed by counsel to the defendants.
Earlier, during cross-examination by counsel to Ahmed, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN), the prosecution witness, Stanley Ujilibo, said he could not confirm whether Ayoola Idowu, the civil servant who petitioned the EFCC over the alleged diversion of funds, benefited from the salaries paid with the disputed money.
Under further cross-examination by counsel to Banu, Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), the witness admitted that he could not identify any document before the court showing that the former commissioner personally requested or approved the borrowing of funds from the SUBEB account.
Ujilibo, however, identified a letter signed by Banu requesting the release of the state’s counterpart funding to SUBEB, but acknowledged that another letter relating to the alleged borrowing was signed by a different official.
Justice Abdulgafar subsequently adjourned the case until November 9 for the continuation of hearing after granting the prosecution’s request.
Leave a Reply