The ongoing trial of the former governor of Kwara State, Ahmed Abdulfatai, and his commissioner for finance, Ademola Banu, was adjourned yesterday to October 9, 2026, following the absence of the major witnesses to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Justice Mahmud Abdulgafar adjourned the case as the prosecution counsel’s request was not opposed by the counsel for the first and second defendants.
Ahmed and Banuu are being prosecuted for allegedly diverting over N5.78 billion State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) fund, reportedly meant for the payment of civil servants’ salaries.
At the brief rounding off of cross-examination of a prosecution witness, Stanley Ujilibo, the prosecution counsel, Adebisi Adeniyi, told the court that the next witnesses were unavoidably absent and requested an adjournment till when the witnesses were available.
Ujilibo, during cross-examination by Kamaldeen Ajibade (SAN) – the lead counsel to the first defendant, Ahmed – had told the court that he would not know if one Ayoola Idowu, a civil servant who petitioned the EFCC about the alleged diversion, benefited from the fund as salary payment.
Also, the witness, during cross-examination by Gboyega Oyewole (SAN), the counsel for Banu, could not point out any document showing that the second defendant borrowed money from the SUBEB fund.
Asked to go through the exhibits before the court, Ujilibo pointed out a letter by Banu to the first defendant requesting that the state should pay its counterpart fund to the SUBEB.
However, when the second defendant’s counsel said the letter did not talk about borrowing but payment of funds, the witness hinted that another letter from the exhibit, which talks about borrowing, was signed by someone else and not the second defendant.