Biodun Esan, Ilorin
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned six officials of the Kwara State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) before Justice Suleiman Akanbi of the Ilorin High Court on allegations of misappropriating N96 million of public funds.
The case, filed by the Ilorin Zonal Directorate of the commission, accused the defendants of abusing their positions and diverting government funds between 2018 and 2020.
The officials charged include Ahmed Husain Olarewaju (Director of Finance and Supply), Omole Omololu John (Controller of Finance and Accounts) and Fatai Oyerinde (Coordinator of the Salary Unit).
The rest were Mujeeb Ibrahim (Executive Officer in Accounts and Salary Schedule), Salami Temitope Bashir, and Dauda Aweda Quozim, both of the Salary Units.
One of the charges stated that the defendants, as public officers, were entrusted with N33.8 million domiciled at Sterling Bank Plc but allegedly breached public trust, an offence punishable under Section 315 of the Penal Code.
Another charge accused them of misappropriating N30.4 million between January and June 2019, while the defendants pleaded not guilty to all four charges.
EFCC’s counsel, Andrew Akoja, urged the court to set a trial date and remand them in the Nigerian Correctional Centre.
However, the defense counsel, Abdullahi Lawal, applied for bail on their behalf.
Justice Akanbi, in his ruling, adjourned the trial to April 16, 2025, and ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Ilorin.
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