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Ex-Kwara Gov, Finance Commissioner On Trial For Diverting N5.78bn Education Fund

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The Kwara State High Court in Ilorin, on Wednesday, commenced the trial of former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and his Finance Commissioner, Ademola Banu.

The duo are accused of conspiring to misappropriate public funds totaling N5.78 billion during Ahmed’s tenure.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), through its Ilorin Zonal Directorate, charged the defendants with diverting funds earmarked for teachers’ salaries under the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (UBEC), as well as funds meant for critical infrastructure and security projects in the state.

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Both Ahmed and Banu, who were arraigned on October 21, 2024, pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.

At the resumed hearing, the EFCC’s first witness, Abubakar Hassan, an assistant director of finance at UBEC, provided testimony implicating the defendants.

Hassan alleged that approximately N5 billion allocated to Kwara State for educational infrastructure projects between 2013 and 2015 was misappropriated.

Testifying under the guidance of EFCC counsel Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), Hassan stated, “The Matching Grant Funds from the Universal Basic Education Commission are intended to provide specific infrastructural facilities for primary and junior secondary school students.

“These facilities include the construction of school buildings, provision of laboratories, construction of toilets, and the provision of water, sanitation, and cultural education infrastructure.”

Hassan added that UBEC’s mission is to ensure no Nigerian child is denied basic education, which spans primary to junior secondary school.

Explaining the process for accessing UBEC grants, he said,“UBEC law provides that the Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, its Executive Secretary, and the Director of Finance are signatories to Matching Grants Accounts. The Matching Grants Account is opened with any commercial bank or the Central Bank of Nigeria.”

He further explained that the state must submit and defend an action plan before receiving the grants.

Hassan testified that Kwara State received N2 billion in 2013, N876 million in 2014, and N982 million in 2015 as matching grants. However, he alleged the 2013 funds were diverted despite the commencement of project implementation.

“Contractors were mobilized to work on-site, but during our project monitoring exercise, we discovered that the monies meant for the 2013 project had been diverted by the Kwara SUBEB. About N2 billion was diverted,” he told the court.

Hassan revealed that UBEC had sent a report to the Kwara SUBEB recommending corrective actions, but no response was received.

Consequently, the EFCC intervened, writing to banks to return the unused 2014 and 2015 funds. He further disclosed that UBEC halted activities in Kwara State from 2016 to 2018 due to the state’s failure to address the diverted funds.

Justice Abdulgafar adjourned the case to February 17, 2025, for further hearing.

In a statement, EFCC spokesperson Dele Oyewale described the witness testimony as pivotal in uncovering the alleged misuse of public funds.

 

 

Crime

Jealous Rage: Court Jails Ekiti Woman 7 Years for Mutilating Boyfriend’s Manhood

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Panic As Rainstorm Demolishes 105 Buildings In Ekiti

A High Court sitting in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, has sentenced a 35-year-old woman, Joy Ikoja, to seven years’ imprisonment for mutilating her boyfriend’s manhood during a violent confrontation after allegedly catching him in bed with another woman.

Justice Oyinkansola Oluboyede convicted Ikoja of causing grievous harm but acquitted her of attempted murder, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish that she intended to kill the victim.

The case, filed under Charge No. HAD/14C/2025, arose from an incident that occurred on April 12, 2025, in the Irona area of Ado-Ekiti.

SEE MORE: Ekiti 2026: Tinubu Hails Oyebanji, Demands Cooperation from Opposition Parties

According to court records, Ikoja and her boyfriend, Ibrahim Usman, had lived together for about three years.

Their relationship reportedly turned sour after they accommodated Ikoja’s female friend, Mayowa Ayomide, who was facing accommodation challenges.

Investigations revealed that Usman allegedly began a secret sexual relationship with Ayomide while they were all living in the same room.

On the evening of April 12, 2025, Ikoja reportedly returned home and found the door locked from the inside. After gaining entry, she allegedly caught Usman and Ayomide together in bed.

The court heard that Usman tried to shield Ayomide by pushing her away and blocking Ikoja’s path. During the ensuing struggle, Ikoja allegedly grabbed Usman’s manhood with force, inflicting severe injuries that left him requiring urgent medical attention.

The victim was initially treated at the Police Cottage Hospital in Okesa, Ado-Ekiti, before being referred to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital after the injury became infected and required specialist urological care.

During the trial, prosecuting counsel F.O. Awoniyi called four witnesses, including police investigators and the attending medical doctor.

Five exhibits were also tendered before the court, including medical reports, photographs, a certificate of compliance and the defendant’s confessional statement.

The defendant, represented by Legal Aid Council counsel Adeyinka Opaleke, pleaded not guilty and denied making the confessional statement, insisting that although there was a fight, she did not inflict the injuries sustained by Usman.

In her judgment, Justice Oluboyede held that the prosecution proved the offence of grievous harm beyond reasonable doubt, describing the defendant’s denial as an afterthought because it was contradicted by medical evidence, police testimony and her extra-judicial confession.

Before sentencing, the judge advised that a plea bargain would have resulted in reduced legal costs, a shorter prison term and a faster resolution of the case.

She also condemned domestic violence driven by uncontrolled emotions, stressing that no act of violence can be justified.

“This Court understands that the Defendant’s action was mostly borne out of uncontrolled emotions and passion against her intimate partner. However, there is no justification for violence and this should serve as a deterrence to any other aggressive partners or would-be aggressive partners.”

Justice Oluboyede subsequently sentenced Ikoja to the maximum punishment prescribed under Section 255 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021, imposing a seven-year prison term excluding the period already spent in detention.

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Crime

Kogi Polytechnic Suspends Seven Lecturers Amid Sex-for-Marks, Cultism Probe

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Four Kogi Poly Students Abducted In Ondo

The management of Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, has suspended seven lecturers over allegations ranging from the unauthorised sale of handouts and textbooks to sexual harassment, as the institution investigates claims of sex-for-marks, cultism and other forms of misconduct.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Sunday by the Polytechnic’s spokesperson, John Onimisi.

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According to the statement, six lecturers were suspended on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, over the alleged unauthorised sale of handouts and textbooks, while another lecturer was suspended over allegations of sexual harassment.

The suspensions come amid growing concerns over reports of sexual harassment, cult-related activities and other disciplinary issues within the institution.

Sources within the Polytechnic alleged that some lecturers demanded sexual favours or money from female students in exchange for passing grades, while cult activities had allegedly resurfaced on campus.

One source claimed that disciplinary measures introduced by the institution’s previous administration had weakened, emboldening erring staff and students.

The source further alleged that female students who reported incidents of sexual harassment received little institutional support and were instead subjected to intimidation.

There were also claims that cult groups had resumed nocturnal meetings on campus despite previous efforts to stamp out such activities.

Other allegations included the reintroduction of compulsory handout sales, a relaxation of the institution’s dress code and reduced enforcement of student identity cards, developments the source claimed had contributed to a decline in discipline across the campus.

Reacting to the allegations, the Polytechnic’s spokesperson, John Onimisi, said the institution’s management was aware of the claims and had already referred the matter to the disciplinary committee for investigation.

“The school management is aware of the allegations, and the disciplinary committee of the Polytechnic is already investigating them. The outcome will be made available to journalists in due course,” Onimisi said.

He assured that appropriate disciplinary measures would be taken based on the committee’s findings.

 

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Crime

Alleged $789,950 Fraud: Court Slams ₦500m Bail on Former Warri Refinery MD

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Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC,

A former Managing Director of the Warri Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (WRPC), Jimoh Yisawu, has been granted bail in the sum of ₦500 million by the Federal High Court in Abuja after pleading not guilty to an eight-count charge of alleged money laundering filed against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Yisawu was arraigned on Monday before Justice Inyang Ekwo in a case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/361/2026, over allegations that he violated the provisions of the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

SEE MORE: EFCC Files Fraud Charges Against Ex-MDs of Warri, PH Refineries

According to the EFCC, the former refinery boss allegedly indirectly converted more than $789,950, said to be proceeds of unlawful activity, in contravention of Section 18(2)(b) of the Act and punishable under Section 18(3).

The anti-graft agency further alleged that Yisawu made cash payments exceeding $789,950 to one Samaila Bala without using any financial institution, contrary to Nigeria’s anti-money laundering laws.

The commission also accused him of making additional cash payments totalling $122,600 through one Rasheed Olaitan Yusuf, also without routing the transactions through a financial institution.

The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to all eight counts when they were read to him in court.

Following his plea, defence counsel Wale Balogun (SAN) urged the court to grant his client bail, noting that the EFCC had earlier released him on administrative bail after seizing his international passport.

Balogun appealed to the court to maintain the same bail conditions, arguing that his client needed to prepare adequately for his defence while out on bail.

However, prosecution counsel Ekele Iheanacho (SAN) opposed the application, urging the court to consider the EFCC’s counter-affidavit challenging the defendant’s request for bail.

In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that the offences contained in the charge were bailable and ruled that Yisawu was entitled to bail.

Relying on Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, the judge granted the former WRPC boss bail in the sum of ₦500 million, with one surety in like sum.

The court ordered that the surety must be a responsible Nigerian with landed property in Abuja and must provide proof of ownership of the property.

Justice Ekwo also directed Yisawu to surrender his international passport and barred him from travelling outside Nigeria without prior approval from the court.

Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the judge ordered that the former refinery chief remain in the custody of the EFCC.

The matter was subsequently adjourned to October 25, 26 and 27, 2026, for the commencement of trial.

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