A former Chairman of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Barrister Lanre Daibu, on Thursday testified before a Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, revealing how N1 billion from the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) Matching Grant meant for basic education projects was diverted to pay salaries of workers and pensioners in 2015.
Daibu, who appeared as the fourth prosecution witness in the ongoing N5.78 billion fraud trial involving former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his former Finance Commissioner, Ademola Banu, told Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar that the directive to release the funds came directly from Banu.
“My Lord, the second defendant, Banu, called me and said the government needed money to pay salaries and pensions,” Daibu stated while being led in evidence by EFCC counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN). “I told him such a request must come in writing. Eventually, we received a letter from the Ministry of Finance, signed on behalf of the commissioner, promising to repay the money within one or two months.”
Daibu, a legal practitioner, added that the board approved the loan despite its reservations, primarily to support the state workforce. However, he said the funds were never refunded before the dissolution of the SUBEB board.
“I was hesitant because I knew the state had no legal right to tamper with the UBEC Matching Grant,” he explained. “That money was meant strictly for projects outlined in the UBEC Action Plan.”
When questioned by the defence counsel, Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) and Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), Daibu confirmed that neither Ahmed nor Banu were signatories to SUBEB accounts. He said the accounts were handled by the board’s Permanent Secretary and Director of Administration and Human Resources.
The fifth prosecution witness, Benjamin Sehinde Fatigun, a retired Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance, also testified. Fatigun confirmed that Governor Ahmed approved the use of the UBEC grant for salary payments based on a recommendation from Banu.
“There was a letter from the Ministry of Finance to the governor explaining that the state was struggling to pay salaries,” Fatigun said. “It was suggested that SUBEB could provide a loan, and the sum of N1 billion was subsequently transferred to the salary account.”
He added that the fund movement was detailed in his statements to the EFCC and was carried out with the governor’s knowledge and consent.
The case was adjourned until Friday, April 11, 2025, for continuation of trial.
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