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.

READ ALSO: Journalist Adedayo Oderinu Advises Women Against Having Many Children

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.

In a significant breakthrough, the Joint Security Task Force in Imo State, operating under the name Operation Udoka, has uncovered shallow graves in Aku Community, Okigwe Local Government Area.

These graves are believed to have been used by members of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militant wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), to bury their victims.

The discovery was made during an intensive clearance operation aimed at dismantling the group’s hold over the region.

READ ALSO: IPOB Calls For Ban On Miyetti Allah, Open Grazing To Curb ESN Operations

The operation, which focused on areas controlled by suspected IPOB leader Ifeanyi Okorienta, alias ‘Gentle,’ also resulted in the seizure of stolen vehicles, arms, ammunition, and explosive devices.

Okorienta is reportedly responsible for a range of violent crimes in the area, including kidnappings and killings.

Brigadier General Usman Lawal, Commander of the 34 Artillery Brigade Obinze, visited the scene alongside Imo State Commissioner of Police Aboki Danjuma and the Governor’s Special Adviser on Security Joseph Ogbonna.

In a joint statement, Brig-Gen. Lawal highlighted the importance of the operation, declaring, “The clearance operation at Aku community is part of our determination to end the terror and insecurity caused by IPOB and its affiliate, ESN.”

During the assessment, Lawal confirmed that 20 individuals had been arrested and were in police custody.

He also appealed to the community for cooperation, saying, “We urge the people of the community to collaborate with security operatives to sustain peace and stability in the area.”

The Aku community, bordering Abia State, has long been a hotbed of criminal activity attributed to IPOB members.

Security forces believe that the operation’s success will bring much-needed relief to the area, particularly as the holiday season approaches.

“The liberation of this area will bring relief to the indigenes and restore peace as we move towards the Yuletide period,” a senior security officer stated. The operation marks a major step in the state’s efforts to curb the violent activities of IPOB and ESN.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has demanded the immediate release of human rights lawyer, Dele Farotimi, following his arrest over allegations of libel.

The NBA also condemned the reported invasion of Farotimi’s law firm, describing the actions of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) as a violation of the rule of law and an assault on the independence of the legal profession.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, NBA President Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN) criticized the police for allegedly harassing lawyers and staff at Farotimi’s office and confiscating their phones during the operation.

READ ALSO: 26 Injured As Protests Against Georgian Gov’t Intensify

“These actions constitute a troubling breach of the rule of law and the sanctity of the legal profession,” Osigwe said.

The NBA emphasized that libel is no longer a criminal offence under Lagos State law.

According to the association, the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011 repealed the criminalization of defamation, aligning with international best practices that classify defamation as a civil matter.

“We must reiterate that the alleged offence of libel, for which Dele Farotimi was reportedly arrested, is not recognized as a criminal offence under the laws of Lagos State,” the statement read.

The NBA also referenced a 2021 Supreme Court decision in Aviomoh v. Commissioner of Police & Anor, where Justice Helen Ogunwumiju affirmed that defamation ceased to be a criminal offence following the enactment of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

“This authoritative pronouncement leaves no room for doubt,” Osigwe added.

The NBA accused the police of acting beyond their legal authority by arresting Farotimi for an alleged non-criminal matter.

It cited the Police Act, 2020, which limits law enforcement actions to recognized criminal offences.

“Arresting individuals for non-criminal matters, such as defamation in Lagos State, is not only unlawful but also a blatant violation of the principles of legality and the rule of law,” the statement said.

The NBA also condemned the reported invasion of Farotimi’s law firm, describing it as an attack on the constitutional rights of lawyers and their clients.

“Of equal concern is the reported invasion of Dele Farotimi’s law firm and the harassment of lawyers and staff within the premises.

Reports that phones were confiscated from lawyers and staff during this invasion highlight a severe disregard for the sanctity of legal practice and the constitutional rights of individuals,” Osigwe stated.

The NBA demanded Farotimi’s immediate release and called for an investigation into the alleged misconduct by the police.

The association insisted that those responsible be held accountable and urged law enforcement agencies to prioritize fairness and respect for human rights in their operations.

“The legal profession is a cornerstone of justice and democracy, and any attempt to undermine its independence is a direct assault on the rule of law,” Osigwe said.